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HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

MASSACHUSETTS 



HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

MASSACHUSETTS 
1711-1911 

Including West Needham 

Now the Toivn of Wellesley 

TO ITS Separation from Needham in 1881, 

WITH SOME References to its 

Affairs to 19 ii 



BY 
GEORGE KUHN CLARKE, A.M., LL.B. 



PRIVATELY PRINTED AT 
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 



f-r^ 



/ 



N5C(j> 



Copyright, 191 2, by 
George Kuhn Clarke 



THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 






i 

^ 



TO 

Ki)t iMemorg of mg JFttcntr 

The Honorable 
ENOS HOUGHTON TUCKER 

A MAN PROMINENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND WIDELY 

ESTEEMED, THIS HISTORY OF THE TOWN, WITH 

WHICH HE WAS IDENTIFIED FOR NEARLY 

A CENTURY, IS DEDICATED 



preface 



The Town of Needham is one of the old towns of the 
Commonwealth that has become a suburb of Boston, and 
is rapidly increasing in population. It has long been known 
as a healthy town situated upon a plateau high above the 
level of the sea, with a light and dry soil, and for more than 
twenty years it has had a water supply that is recognized 
as exceptionally fine. In recent years it has been easy of 
access, by frequent and rapid trains, and Boston can now 
be reached in less than half an hour. It is a law-abiding 
community, mainly of the Anglo-Saxon race, and many 
families from larger places find here congenial people and 
pleasant homes. Such a town seems worthy of a printed 
town history, and for many years those most interested in 
it have awaited the appearance of a man, or woman, who 
would undertake this work. For thirty years I have been 
accustomed to read the town records, and as early as 1884 
I prepared for the History of Norfolk County an account 
of the votes passed by the citizens of Needham relating to 
the War of the American Revolution. Later I contributed 
numerous articles on local topics to the Dedham Historical 
Register and to other periodicals. When a young man I 
wrote a sketch of the town to the beginning of the Revolu- 
tionary War, but this I never expected to publish, and did 
not perfect it, although some subjects were treated with 
much detail. For years I anticipated that a town history 
would be written by a native of Needham whose knowledge 
of the past exceeded mine. Two men were occasionally 
mentioned, one of whom, Charles Curtis Greenwood, was 
known as a collector of ancient documents, such as surveyors' 



ii PREFACE 

plans, deeds, military commissions, and old sermons. Pos- 
terity is probably indebted to Mr. Greenwood for the pres- 
ervation of many old papers, particularly those relating 
to Dedham prior to 1700. 

Ten years ago the Bicentennial of the town was no longer 
far distant, and there seemed to be no one to write its history 
unless I did it. Not realizing fully the hard work Involved, 
I decided to undertake It, and in the autumn of 1904 began 
In earnest. After a year or so I thought I would make a 
record of the time thus expended, and In August, 191 1, 
found that I had already devoted about three thousand 
hours to my task, and had the proof yet to read. What the 
total expenditure of time will be I cannot estimate, but 
for several years have felt that had I known in the beginning 
what I was undertaking this history would never have 
been written by me. It is published entirely at my own 
expense, without financial aid from the town or from any 
one. 

I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Thomas Sutton, our 
town clerk, for his unfailing courtesy and encouragement, 
and to the many persons who have cheerfully given helpful 
Information when requested. 

It Is perhaps necessary to remind some readers of this book 
that on September 2, 1752, the Act of Parliament adopt- 
ing the Gregorian Calendar took effect, and that eleven 
days were omitted from that month — for example, what 
would have been the nineteenth under the old calendar 
became the thirtieth. The Julian Calendar, previously in 
force, began the year on March 25, while many nations 
were using the Gregorian Calendar which began the year 
on January i. This confusion led the subjects of the Sover- 
eign of Great Britain and Ireland to write the double dates 
during the months of January, February and March, and 
this was commonly done during many years. The Julian 
Calendar had become, moreover, astronomically Incorrect, 
and varied eleven days from the more accurate Gregorian 



PREFACE iii 

method of reckoning the years. It should also be borne in 
mind that formerly there was no standard as to the spelling 
of words, and that illiteracy should not be hastily imputed 
because a writer did not spell according to modern rules. 

Although local history is made up of petty details, I 
have avoided as far as possible reference to the various 
controversies that have arisen in the town at different 
periods. 

I have done my best to give a correct and trustworthy 
history of the Town of Needham, and hope that it will 
prove of value not only to persons now living, but to future 
generations. 

George Kuhn Clarke 

November 17, 191 1. 



illustrations 

Portrait of George Kuhn Clarke Frontispiece ^ 

Daniell House Facing page 1 8"^ 

Amos Lyon House " i8^ 

Fuller-Mills House " 46^ 

Paine-Mills House " 46^ 

Lyon's Bridge " 118^ 

Day's Bridge " 118 "^ 

Newell's Bridge " 120-" 

Fisher's Bridge " 1 20 X 

Town Hall " 192"^ 

West End School-house " 328 

Jonathan Bacon's House " 328 ^ 

Needham High School " 354 ^ 

Tolman-Gay House " 45 ^ 

Mann-BIackman House " 45 ^ 

Doctor Josiah Noyes's House " 57^'' 

Old Oak on the Training Field " 614' 

Portrait of Francis Asbury Burrill " 6i4v/ 

Portraits of Mr. George Hiram Gay, of the Honorable 

Enos Houghton Tucker and of Mr. Ezra Fuller . " 618 



HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



tKte Jftrst Settlement of J^eetifjam 

After the close of the great Indian war In 1676, fear of 
the Red Men no longer influenced the pioneers of New Eng- 
land, who began to establish their homes in the remoter 
portions of the townships. On April 13, 1680, the inhabi- 
tants of Dedham purchased of an Indian a territory four 
miles long by five wide for ten pounds in money, forty acres 
of land, and Indian corn to the value of forty shillings. 
This tract included not only the Town of Needham, as it 
was prior to 1797, but also Dedham Island, which contains 
nine hundred acres. The forty acres of land reserved by 
the Indian, or confirmed to him, were at the Upper Falls. 
The Indian grantor was William Hahaton, or Nehoiden, 
who evidently could write his name, but was in doubt as 
to the spelling, if his signatures to different deeds are auto- 
graphs. The town officials of Dedham were even more 
uncertain, for eight variations of this name appear in their 
records for five years, 1680-4. 

However, the memory of William is preserved in the re- 
gion where he presumably dwelt so long ago by the following 
local names: — in Needham Nehoiden Street and Hahaton 
Field, in Wellesley at the present time a Nehoiden Club, 
formerly a post-office called Nehoiden, now Wellesley Hills, 
and in Westwood Nahatan Street. When that town was 
incorporated, in 1897, it was alone the objection of the 
member from Nahant that prevented the proposed town 
from bearing the name of Nahatan. The city of Newton 
has a Nahanton Street in its southern ward, a Nahaton Hall 



lo THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

at the Upper Falls, and a Neholden Road in the Waban 
section. 

Directly after the purchase from Hahaton, or Nehoiden, 
an Indian, whose name is variously spelt Magus, Maugus, 
Magos, Mogast or Maguse, claimed a tract of land extending 
toward the "Herd yard" and including the hill that bears 
his name. That is to say, he claimed Wellesley Hills, al- 
though it was within the territory that Hahaton had already 
conveyed to the white men. The inhabitants thought it 
best to pay Maugus eight pounds, and received a deed from 
him in January, 1680/1. Magos was one of the prisoners at 
Deer Island in the winter of 1675, but the following spring 
he was made lieutenant of a company of Christian Indians 
collected by Capt. Samuel Huntting to go against the 
Indian enemy. 

In 1902 the late Otis Pettee had in his possession three 
original documents of interest; viz., deed of William Hahaton, 
perhaps called Nahaton in the body of the instrument, to 
Robert Cook of Dorchester of the forty acres of land at the 
Upper Falls, which the inhabitants of Dedham had confirmed 
to Hahaton (this deed, which is handsomely written, is 
dated 1700, or 1701, recites the history of the land, and 
conveys the fish weirs); a deposition of Amos Nahortan, 
son of William, who was at the time of the document, 
January 4 (7), 1747, eighty-two years old, to the effect that 
some sixty years previous his father had sold to John Magus 
two acres at the Upper Falls, and that this land was not 
included in the sale to Mr. Cooke; a deposition of Sarah 
Tray, dated May 20, 1748, stating that her grandfather. 
Magus, owned the said two acres, and that her parents, 
Catharine and Ephraim, dwelt there, using the wigwam and 
rock house, and that they cut wood for fuel, dried their 
fish, etc. The Indians could not have reserved a spot more 
noted in later times for its wild beauty. Besides abiding in 
the summer in the "Hemlock Gorge Reservation", as their 
fishing ground is now named. Magus is said to have had 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ii 

a wigwam near a spring on the south slope of Maugus 
Hill.i 

There is little trace of the Indians in Needham, but one of 
their fish weirs exists in the Charles River, north of the 
street of that name, and extends at an angle from the Cheney 
estate, formerly the Col. John Jones place, to the land for- 
merly belonging to Messrs. Alden and Pope.^ Although 
the Indian titles were recognized and extinguished by the 
people of Dedham in 1680, land had for many years been 
granted on the north side of the Charles River to persons 
who had improved it. Before and after King Philip's War 
Indian servants were not uncommon in Dedham, and several 
men gave bonds to the town to secure it against expense 
because of such Indians. In 1676 Samuel and Benjamin 
Mills gave a bond on account of "twoo young endians", 
and Benjamin devoted a wolf bounty to pay the fines of 
five shillings each, demanded of his father and himself, for 
having the said Indians without the consent of the selectmen. 

The records of the Proprietors of Dedham are of great 
value in regard to the lands, but are silent as to dwellings 
on the north side of the Charles prior to 1694. The first 
eleven printed volumes of the Suffolk Deeds bring the records 
down to 1680, but contain few documents relating to Ded- 
ham. The most important Dedham deed is that of William 
"Parcke", Attorney, to Anthony Fisher, father of Capt. 
Daniel, of upward of two hundred acres in Dedham, includ- 
ing a portion of "Rosemarie" Meadow. This deed is dated 
20 8 mo., 1652, but was not acknowledged, or recorded, till 
1672/3, and is in Vol. VIII. of the Suffolk Deeds. In Vol. I. 
are two quaint mortgages from Samuel Mills to Governor 
Thomas Dudley: — the first for £8, on twelve acres, interest 

' Horace Mann was sceptical as to the residence of Magus, at any season, at 
"Sachem's Hill," but admitted that when not in Natick with the other Indians, 
among whom he was a teacher, Magus did dwell at the Upper Falls. 

There are in Wellesley Hills the Maugus Club and the Maugus Press. Maugus 
Avenue leads from Washington Street to Maugus Hill. 

2 Mr. Charles H. Mitchell has a considerable collection of arrow heads, and 
other Indian implements, found in Needham and vicinity. 



12 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

payable semi-annually in "cleare wheat", butter and cheese; 
the second for £6, 6s., 8d., on a dwelling, barn, and ten acres, 
payments to be made April and October in wheat, in cheese, 
in butter at 6d. per pound, or its equivalent money. These 
mortgages were dated 1647, and were for three years. The 
indebtedness was for a cow. 

In the following pages are many quotations from probate 
papers and from deeds, and those copied by Mr. Clarke are 
verbatim. Abstracts made by others are correct in sub- 
stance, and where the original language is used are in most 
instances exact. From 1743 to 1761 the West End was a 
part of Natick, and, consequently, in Middlesex County. 
It is quite likely that documents at other periods also 
found their way to Cambridge. 

ALDEN 

Henry Alden was in Needham in 171 1, and his descend- 
ants have lived in the same locality ever since. In 1728/9 
John Alden administered on the estate of his father, 
Henry, of which Robert Cook, John Smith, and Eleazer 
Kingsbery were the appraisers. The inventory, which in- 
cluded books, amounted to £576, 135.^ In 1771 three 
Alden families lived on what is now Central Avenue. Silas 
dwelt on the place which has long been the home of the 
Hurd family, and built in 1801 the house now owned and 
occupied by William Emery Hurd; the old house was burned. 
Silas Alden was an officer in the Revolution, and later a 
lieutenant-colonel of militia, and was familiarly known as 
"Old Growl". The Honorable Enos H. Tucker well re- 
membered him, and said that he was stout, of medium 
height, and wore side-whiskers as was then the custom, 

1 Of twenty-one families represented by the petitioners for the Incorporation of 
Needham, two centuries ago, only five or six have descendants in Needham in 191 1 
of the same surname as the petitioner. Of these the ancient Fuller family is repre- 
sented by but one young lady. The town of Wellesley adds two or three names 
to this brief list. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 13 

beards not being in favor. In 1842 the oldest of the Alden 
houses was one of the most ancient dwellings in town; it 
stood a short distance south of Hurd's Corner, on the easterly 
side of Central Avenue, a little north of the present house of 
William B. Levering. 

ALDERIDGE — ALDRIDGE — ALDRICH 
Thomas Alderidge of Dedham, whose widow's dower was 
set off in 1718, had, besides the "School Ground" (see 
"Roads"), about one hundred and five acres extending 
from Nehoiden Street to Mark Tree Road. This land, with 
the exception of four acres granted to him, he bought of 
Cornelius Fisher. A grant was made to Alderidge in 1674 
of two acres "of swampy upland, at North Hill". (Pro- 
prietors' records.) In 1728 Joseph Lyon of Dedham was 
appointed to administer on Mr. Alderidge's estate, the 
latter's widow not having completed that duty, and in 1729 
the final division was made. Samuel Alderidge, not a son 
of Thomas, deeded in 1714, for £200, to Joseph Boyden 
several parcels of land, in all containing upward of one hun- 
dred acres, with dwelling-house, barn, orchard, etc. This 
land apparently included the Mann-Blackman farm, but 
although the house now standing there is ancient, it is 
probably not the one mentioned in 17 14. Samuel Alderidge 
made his home with Boyden for many years, and was the 
second benefactor of our schools. "I give unto the Schoole 
in Needham for therse ufe and benifitt the full sume of five 
pounds" (will dated December 18, 1721, proved April 9, 
1722). The money was received by the selectmen of Need- 
ham on February 27, 1722/3. He also directed that grave- 
stones be put at his grave, but it does not appear where he 
was to be buried. 

By his will he gave his kinswoman Mary Coude £10, 
kinswoman Sarah Woodcocke £5, kinsman Benjamin Lyon, 
son of Joseph of Roxbury, £5, if he lived to the age of 
twenty-one, Daniel Boyden, son of Joseph, £4, Rebecca 



14 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Boyden, daughter of Joseph, £i. The executors were Joseph 
Boyden of Needham and John Gay of Dedham, and they 
were also the residuary legatees.-^ 

In modern times the surname is usually spelled Aldrich 
or Aldridge. 

AYRES — AYERS 

Nathaniel Ayres bought thirty acres of Josiah Kingsbery 
in 1738, for £200. In 1745 he and Francis Very, "Cooper" 
(also our school master), mortgaged the same land to James 
Bowdoin, Esq., of Boston for ninety-three and three fourths 
ounces of coined silver sterling alloy, and gave a bond for one 
hundred and eighty-seven ounces to pay the ninety-three and 
three fourths ounces, with interest, on or before June 11, 1746. 
The estate of Ann Ayres, widow of Nathaniel, was appraised 
at £465 in 1 74 1, and divided as follows: — to Nathaniel Tol- 
man, son of said Ann, buildings and land, he to make pay- 
ments to his brothers and sisters; viz., Ebenezer Tolman, 
Thomas Tolman, John Ares, Jemima Tolman and Mary Tol- 
man £58, los., 8d. old tenor, each. On January 21, 1741, 
Josiah Newell, Ebenezer Newell and John Paine had reported 
that the estate was "not Capable" of division, but the 
Court appointed Nathaniel Man, Amos Fuller and Jeremiah 
Fisher to appraise it. Among the items were "The Wood 
Lot at High Rock" £70, "The Lot Called the School 
Ground" £50, and "The Pine Neck Meadow" £20. In 

^ Joseph Boyden owned fifty acres at the Chestnut Trees, and twelve acres at 
Pine Swamp Neck. In 1735 he kept a tavern in Sutton, and in 1738 removed to 
Worcester, where he died April 17, 1748. After Mr. Boyden theAlderidge farm of 
ninety-six acres and buildings was owned by Nathaniel Man, who sold it in 1765 
to Joseph Colburn. 

In 1784 Timothy Broad, executor of Joseph Colburn, sold to Thomas Gardner 
and Moses Man, for £710, thirty acres "with a house and barn and Slaughter 
house," sixty acres and also six acres, total ninety-six. The same year Mr. Gardner 
sold his interest in the buildings, and in a part of the land, to Moses Mann, who 
bought additional land. Mr. Mann was a well-known butcher, and that business 
had been conducted on the premises before his time. Nathaniel Mann, an earlier 
owner, was son-in-law of the Rev. Mr. Townsend. About 1763 he removed to 
Natick, but in their old age he and his wife lived with Dr. Morrill, who had married 
their daughter, and whose homestead is now a part of the Hunnewell estate. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 15 

1771 William Bowdoln, Esq., lived near the river, in the 
valley on the north side of the road leading from the Turn- 
pike to the Lower Falls, and later this was the home of 
David Ayres; there is still some vestige of the cellar, but 
the ground Is swampy. 

BACON 

John Bacon and his wife came to Dedham In 1640, It Is 
said from Ireland, and were the ancestors of many of the 
Bacons who have lived In Needham.^ John Bacon was 
a fence viewer In Dedham In 1694, ^^^ ^ surveyor of high- 
ways there In 1702. In 1700 he had land on the north side 
of the Charles River, and In 1729 John, perhaps the same, 
conveyed ten acres "near the Chestnut Trees" (Forest 
Street) to his son John in "Consideration love to Dutiful 
Son John and for the purpose of Settling My Earthly Estate". 
In 171 1 Samuel Bacon lived on the west side of what is now 
Hunnewell Street, near Webster Street, and owned much 
land. Horace Mann wrote that Stephen Bacon built a rude 
house in the southeast corner of "The Leg" In 1705, and 
later a better one, and that both existed in 1886, the first 
house, or rather a portion of It, as a shed. In 1895 Mr. Mann 
said that a part only of the second house was standing. 

In 1724 Stephen Bacon lived south of the Framlngham 
road, which was then Irregular in shape, a mere path, and 
Timothy on the north side, and west of the present Deacon 
Wight place. Robert Jennison, for half a century a noted 
builder, "finished" a house for John Bacon In 1743, and one 
for Timothy in 1744, but It does not appear whether "fin- 
ished" necessarily referred to a new house. Mr. Mann 
said that Henry Bacon's house built In 1755 was extant In 
1895. 

On February 11, 1774, John Bacon of Needham, "Gentle- 
man", sold Samuel Morse of Natick and Isaac Underwood 

* There is an abstract of Michael Bacon's will, dated 1648, in the New England 
Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. VII. 



i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

of Needham, both "Yeomen", seventy acres for £iio, 14s., 
6d., and mentions "Brother Henry Bacon". John's wife, 
Abigail, signed the deed. Ten years later the grantees sold 
fifty acres of this land for £120 to Benjamin Ward of Need- 
ham and acknowledged the deed before Josiah Newell, 
Justice of the Peace, whose name is familiar to those who 
examine deeds of that period. 

The Bacons owned much land In the westerly part of the 
town after the Revolutionary War, and Lieut. John, killed 
at West Cambridge April 19, 1775, lived at the junction of 
Bacon and North Main Streets, now In Natick, at the ex- 
treme end of "The Leg". One of the last acts of the noted 
Col. John Jones as a Colonial magistrate was on July 25, 
1774, when he fined Ephralm Bacon of Needham for "un- 
lawful absence from the public worship of God, Lords' Days, 
three months as expressed in a Bill of Indictment filed in 
y° Court of General Sessions of y" peace". Colonel Jones 
was well known through all this region, and was President 
of the Court of Sessions when Norfolk County was created 
in 1793. 

BAKER 

Lieutenant John Baker, from whom Baker's Field takes 
its name, was a carpenter and builder In Dedham, and served 
in various town offices. Land was granted to him in "Burch 
plaine" as early as 1680. 

BROAD 

Hezekiah Broad was an inhabitant of Needham before 
its incorporation, and in 1709 Ebenezer Ware, "Husband- 
man," had sold to Robert Cooke, "hornebreaker", and 
Hezekiah Broad, "Tayler," "both of s^? Dedham", ten acres 
in Rosemary Meadow for £60. Ware's wife, Martha, signed 
the deed. In 1710 Mr. Broad sold Jonathan Smith one 
hundred acres north of the Sherborn road by the "Pond 
Brook", and on a proposed highway. On March 12, 1746/7, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 17 

Hezeklah sold to Thomas Broad fifty acres, with a house 
and barn, In the 4th Hundred near Weston line. In 1773 
Josiah Broad of Holden, Thomas Broad of Needham, Moses 
Fisk of Needham, Josiah Morse and Hezekiah Broad, both 
of Natick, all five of them "Yeomen", conveyed to Ephraim 
Jackson of Newton, "Gentleman," forty-five acres near 
Maugus Hill, "it being the house lot of the said Hezekiah 
Broad of said Needham deceased". The Broads had other 
possessions, and the Rev. Stephen Palmer knew as Broad's 
Pond the pond that is now Morse's Pond, it then presumably 
taking its name from Thomas Broad, who lived near by. 
There was a Broad homestead on Bacon Street, west of 
Oak Street, and in Natick there is Broad's Hill. A century 
ago Timothy Broad lived in the house known as the Pierce, 
or Peirce house, which was destroyed by fire on May 6, 1885. 
Three other old houses on Charles River Street have been 
burned within thirty years. Three more old landmarks in 
that neighborhood have been pulled down, but a portion of 
one of them, the Chamberlain house, was removed from 
Grove Street to the southerly side of Charles River Street, 
and located in a field, where it is the residence of the super- 
intendent of the Ridge Hill Farms. 

BROWN 

"Betty Brown House" 

On April i, 1773, Samuel Brown of Newton, "Yeoman," 
bought for £220, of John Fuller, Jr., of Needham, " Yeoman," 
fifty-five acres of land with house and barn, and also thirteen 
acres separate from the homestead. Mercy was the name 
of Mr. Fuller's wife. Samuel Brown later bought three 
parcels of land, amounting to fourteen acres, and also one 
lot near the West Meeting-house, which latter piece was sold 
him by Isaac Mills. Prior to 1800 Mr. Brown purchased 
from Philip Floyd six and three quarters acres on the Sher- 
born road. The Brown house was on, or near, the site of 



1 8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the residence of the late Charles B. Dana, in Wellesley, and 
was built about 1702. Miss Betsey Brown, a daughter of 
Samuel, and a generous benefactress of the West Church, 
lived in the ancient house until her death in 1855. Mrs. 
Charles C. Greenwood has a drawing of this typical old 
homestead, sketched in 1861 by the late Timothy Newell 
Smith, who has placed posterity under obligations to him 
for views of other quaint old buildings, all of which have 
since disappeared. 

BULLARD 

Nathaniel Bullard bought land of one of the Dewings. 
He was admitted to the Church in Needham in September, 
1727, and "laid hold on the Covenant 25 years since in 
Sudbury". He died June 17, 1754. Nathaniel was the father 
of Major Moses and of Ensign Ephraim Bullard. 



COOK 

Edward Cook was a field driver in Dedham in 1698, 
1705, '06, '08, and '09, and lived in that part of the town 
which is now Needham. He died in 171 1, and his grave- 
stone, judging by the date, is the oldest in the graveyard on 
Nehoiden Street. In 1696 he had a grant of six acres at 
Maugus Hill. 

On January i, 1700/1, the selectmen of Dedham consented 
to the purchase by Robert Cooke of Dorchester of forty 
acres of land "granted to William Nahaton neer the vper 
falls". Robert Cook of Needham was born in Boston, and 
his father's name was Robert. The younger Robert Cook 
had a brother, William, on account of whose service in the 
war against Canada in 1690 he was granted land in "Dor- 
chester, Canada" (Ashburnham). Robert was a surveyor 
of highways in Dedham in 1706, constable 1709, selectman 
1710. He was one of the first settlers in what is now Need- 
ham, and lived on his farm near Cook's Bridge at the Upper 







DANIELL HOUSE 




AMOS LYON HOUSE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 19 

Falls. His record for long service in many different town 
offices has been rivalled to the present time (191 1) only by 
that of the late Solomon Flagg. Captain Cook was also con- 
cerned with much of the private business of his fellow towns- 
men, and his name frequently occurs in the County records. 
He is called a "Horn Breaker" in some documents. In 
1727 he was administrator of the estate of his son, William. 
Robert died April i, 1756, aged eighty-six years, and was 
probably buried next to his wife in the old graveyard on 
Nehoiden Street. 

DANIELL 

Joseph Daniell, son of Samuel of Medfield, and grandson 
of Robert Daniell of Watertown and Cambridge, was a 
surveyor of highways in Dedham in 1705, field driver 1705, 
'06, constable 1706, tythingman 1707, '08. He had a grant 
from the Proprietors of Dedham of six acres at Maugus 
Hill on November 26^ 1700, and at his decease, June 8, 1720, 
at the age of forty-three, he owned about one hundred and 
fifty acres of land in Needham^ most of it near his home, 
which was not far from where the Orthodox Congregational 
Meeting-house now stands in Wellesley Hills. He was 
buried in the old graveyard in Needham, and his gravestone 
was there in the sixties, but is now missing. His estate was 
valued at £904, os., 4d., and Lydia "Daniels" of Medway 
was the administratrix. The widow's name was Lydia, that 
of the eldest son was Joseph, and the other sons were Jasper 
and Samuel, the daughters being Lydia BuUen and Mary 
Daniell, all of whom were living in 1729, when the estate 
was divided. Jeremiah Daniell, a grandson of Joseph, Sr., 
died in 1784. He had lived in the house, still standing, at 
the corner of Washington and Oakland Streets, but, old as 
this house is, it is hardly likely that it dates back to 1720. 
There is a good printed genealogy of the Daniell family of 
Needham by Moses Grant Daniell, A.M., a native of this 
town. 



20 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

DEWING 

Lieutenant Andrew Dewing, who was living in Sudbury 
in 1640, had a garrison house, somewhere near the Charles 
River, and probably west of the place where the Nine Arch 
Bridge now stands. In 1676 he had charge of fifty Indians. 
Andrew had the bounty of twenty shillings for killing two 
wolves in 1664. The records of the Proprietors of Dedham 
contain the particulars of a number of grants of land to 
Andrew Dewing 165 1- , although the tracts were not ex- 
tensive; the majority were in the western part of the town, 
a few in Rosemary Meadow, and others near the Great 
Plain. Andrew Dewing died September 7, 1677. 

As early as 1683 the Bacons acquired by marriage an 
interest in some of the Dewing lands, and in 1771 a Bacon 
family was living on the Gay-Reynolds place, which had been 
Dewing property. Jonathan Dewing, son of Lieut. Andrew, 
when under age, had been a soldier in King Philip's War. 
In 1729 he sold to Nathaniel Bullard, who also was a "Hus- 
bandman", twenty acres part upland and part swampy in 
a plain near Natick Brook, located in Needham and in Natick 
Dividend. It was bounded on the southwest by land be- 
longing to Andrew Dewing, on the northeast by the land 
of Henry Dewing, on the southeast by a small brook, and 
on the northwest by waste land. The inventory, dated 
1741, of Jonathan Dewing, amounted to £962, 3s., 2d., and 
included his homestead, and land in the Rosemary Meadow, 
in Horse Neck, and in Pine Swamp. In 1744 Edmund 
Dewing mortgaged his dwelling, barn and forty acres to 
John Trail of Boston, merchant, for one hundred and eighty- 
seven ounces ten penny weight of coined silver sterling alloy 
troy weight, and the next spring he mortgaged to the same 
merchant for a like amount the homestead of his late father, 
Andrew Dewing, with eighty acres. These mortgages were 
paid within a few years. Lieut. Andrew Dewing's son, 
Andrew, was chosen in 1671, '72, '75 and ^']'j to burn woods 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 21 

"for the Island Side". He was to perform that duty in 
1678, '81-3, and was a constable in 1707, '08. He died 
January 14, 1717/18, and was the father of another Lieut. 
Andrew Dewing. The estate lately owned by Messrs. 
Alden and Pope was included in the Dewing property, and, 
after the incorporation of the town, there were two houses 
occupied by Dewing families on what is now Grove Street. 
The Dewings also owned land that now belongs to Charles 
H. W. Foster, and between this land and the present Central 
Avenue, once called Fisher's Meeting Road, was the farm 
and homestead of Josiah Newell. This Dewing territory 
was part of the Natick Dividend granted by the Dedham 
people in 1660 to half a dozen planters, of whom Andrew 
Dewing was one. Each right is said to have consisted of 
about seventeen or eighteen acres, in the proportion of two 
thirds upland and one third meadow, but an individual 
might secure two or more cow commons, as the tracts were 
called, according to his means and the size of his family. 
Horace Mann said that Andrew Dewing had over eight 
hundred acres in this region, and deeded farms to his sons, 
but the deeds do not appear to be on record. The Natick 
Dividend may be described as east of the Boston and Albany 
Railroad Company's tracks, and bounded on the northeast 
by Maugus Hill. The Hundreds Dividend was substantially 
a territory west of the railroad tracks, and extending from 
the Lower Falls to Blossom Street. The inventory of Andrew 
Dewing,^ dated 1746, amounted to £1404, 9s., gd., and in- 
cluded his homestead on the northeast side of the road, 
"Stone Swamp" on the west side, land in Natick, and two 
acres near "the Wigwam". The estate was divided in 175 1, 
and the heirs were Jeremiah and Solomon Dewing, the latter 
also by purchase representing Dorothy Ware, and Mary, 
wife of John Chickering. There were one hundred and fifty 

^ Mr. Benjamin F. Dewing published in 1904 an excellent history, or genealogy, 
of the Dewings, which distinguishes between the different men who bore the name 
of Andrew in successive generations. Mr. Dewing possessed a large amount of 
valuable biographical matter that he did not include in his book. 



23 ruv. uisroRV ok nkipham 

acres, most of it o.ist ot S.nvinill iMw^-k in Xoedham. but 
twt^ho .KTos wove west of the brook m "Daniels Hill" in 
Natick. 

There was a branch of the Dewing fannly in Natiek, and 
they were pro!nit\ent in the n\\litar\' annals, as were those 
resideiu in Xewlhatn. \\\ i""! .i Pew ing famil\- U\edwluTe 
did the late C^vM^e A. ALlon. .\\\d auot!\er where tonnerly 
sto».xl the Chamberlain house, perhaps in that same house. 
A third Dewing tan\ily dwelt southwest of the Gay-Reynolds 
place, presun\ably in the house afterward the home of 
Jacob Pierce.' In 1771 Charles River Street ended at the 
Gay farm, then owned and occupied by Bacons. 

Ebenezer Dewing, son of Henry Dewing, while returning 
fiv»m Cambridge on his wagon, on November 25, 1700, was 
murdered near the house of John n.;\ enport in Newton, by 
a negro named Titus, a servant of Edward Durant of Newton. 
The jury brought in a verdict of noi s:iiih\\ apparently on 
the gn>und that Mr. Dewing might have mistaken the iden- 
tity of his assailant, and that other evidence than that ob- 
tained fn>m a dying man was necessary. Ebenezer lived on 
a portion of the Dewing lands on a farm later known as the 
Gay-Reynolds place, on Charles River Street. 

DRVRY 

Joseph nr;:r\, "Cordwainer", son of Caleb Drury of 
Sudbury, bought of Jonathan Underwvxx'. of Natick, "Hus- 
bandman", on April 4, 175^, thirty-two acres, apparently a 
part of the John Underwoovi farm, on the west side of the 
present Bacon Street; he K^ught also an orchard of one half 
acre, bounded northeasterly on the ro>ad now Bacon Street, 
the price for both parcels amounting to £153, $s. Priscilla 
I'nderwvxxl wife of Jonathan, released dower. Tn 1701 Drury 

with the Vowu oi WVstvNzt, invArijiMy stv'l »'•>?'.: jv- - . isd this forui is 

iK^t uuk'.vwrt m Neeohim, Although sev^ .vb's desceucists 

hA\-* wtUtca their »Aiue$ /M>*,v. 



Till" HIS TORY OF NKKPHAM 23 

pinvh.u<Cvi of John SpiMiTuo vM" Attloboro. " I lusbaudtuan", 
and of William Spraguo of Oovlhani. " Rlacksmith ", fifty 
acres adjoining the land bought of Jonathan Ut\dor\vood, 
and paid £q;, Os., Sd. Fron\ the note book of Robert Jenni- 
son it appears tliat in 175^ lie *'fii\ished" Joseph Drury's 
house, which must have been a new house, as neither of the 
deeds ot i;'5- reter tv^ buildings. Joseph Orur)' apparentlv 
lived in the old red building, which now stands west of the 
Wight houses on Racon Street. This old liouse was once a 
school-house, and has been moved down a lane. It is prol>- 
ably one ot the three houses that Hv>race M.nm said were 
built by the Inderwoods. another being the Farvis house. 
The old John Goodenow house, at the Waban Conserva- 
tories, was at one time the residence of Captain Prurv, 
who erected the dwelling west of it. 

Joseph Orury lost his life from the fall of a temporarv 
structure at his coal pits, and on March iv'>\ irr> b.plivaiiu 
Drury, "Student", John Hacon. Jr., and Zeruiah, his wife, 
Lydia Drury, as guardian of F.lizabeth a minor, all of Xeed- 
ham. conveycvi to Jv\<eph Orury. "Husbandman", for ,1*1:4. 
all their rights ii\ the estate of Joseplt Drury deceased, 
except the widow's dower. Fifteen years later Joseph Drury 
sold fifty acres, with buildings, to Moses Fisk for £400, 
including his interest in his mother's dower, but in 1790 the 
land was deeded back to Drury. 

FA i\^\ 

John F'aton. one of the early settlers of Dedham. w.is .1 
substantial citi::en. and his descendants ha\e been for gener- 
ations identified with Dedhant and the adjoining towns, and 
have had extensive landed possessions in Norfolk Countv, 
including some in what is now Stoughton. Tlie first John 
F.aton died in 105S. and his gr.mdson. \\"illiant. died in 171S, 
leaving to his younger sons. Josiah and Jeremi.ih. large 
tracts of land on the Cu-eat Plain, and on both sides of 
Rosemarv Brook. The eldest son. \\"illiam, had the two 



24 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

farms on Dedham Island, which had belonged to his great- 
grandfather, the first John Eaton. The Eatons were tax- 
payers in Needham from its incorporation, and Josiah and 
Jeremiah, previously referred to, became residents. Josiah 
is the ancestor of the families of Eatons now dwelling on the 
Great Plain. He was a blacksmith, and in 1760 owned a 
large territory extending from Kendrlck's Bridge so far south 
that it included a portion, perhaps the greater part, of 
Bird's Hill, and also the estate on the south side of Great 
Plain Avenue, where for many years was the home of 
Augustus Eaton, who died October 15, 1909, aged eighty-six 
years, seven months and twenty-nine days. In 1771 the 
Eatons lived on Webster Street, east of where the railroad 
is, and the homestead built In 1822 by William Eaton, Jr., 
was sold within the recollection of persons now living, and 
became the residence of Jonathan Avery. The more ancient 
Eaton homestead was in the yard of the house built in 1822, 
and a short distance west of it. 

John Alden Eaton of Newton contributed to the Dedham 
Historical Register for 1900 and 1901 a valuable account of 
this race of Eatons. 

EDES 

In 1729 Peter "Eades", who was of the Charlestown fam- 
ily, bought of Jeremiah and Deborah Fisher of Dedham 
fifty acres "It being one half of the Eighth lot Drawn In 
that DIvident north of the Sherborn Road" for £150. In 
1771 John Edes and the widow Edes each had a house on 
the north side of Washington Street, near the junction with 
the Turnpike, in what Is now Wellesley Hills. The Oliver 
Edes house on South Street, near the pumping station, was 
a century old, and was burned on September 3, 1893. 

FISHER 

John Fisher, son of Capt. Daniel Fisher of Dedham, and 
great-grandson of Anthony Fisher of Syleham, Suffolk, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 25 

England, lived in Dedham north of the river. His grand- 
father had owned land which is now in Needham as early as 
1650, and other members of the Fisher family had grants 
there. John Fisher was a surveyor of highways in Dedham 
1692, field driver 1695, 1702, '03, fence viewer 1697, '98. 
In 1703 he was appointed by Governor Dudley to look after 
the Natick Indians, but found it no easy duty. He was a 
soldier in King Philip's War, and was the captain of the 
first company of militia formed in Needham. By his will 
he gave £5 to Mr. Townsend for the use of the Church. He 
died January 21, 1735/6, aged eighty, and was buried in 
the old graveyard. His son, " Squire " John, sometimes called 
Captain, who died of the small-pox May 6, 1752, was also 
buried there. In 1746 John Fisher purchased of Caleb 
Wheaton a farm of fifty acres, which bounds on the river, 
and is the most westerly estate on the east side of Central 
Avenue. This farm was for many years the residence of 
Deacon John Fisher, whose sister, Elizabeth, had married 
Wheaton on September 8, 1736. The Honorable Enos H. 
Tucker recalled the Deacon John Fisher house. 

John Trail of Boston held mortgages in Needham at this 
period, and in 1744 John Fisher, Esq., and Jeremiah Fisher 
mortgaged to Air. Trail for one hundred and fifty ounces of 
coined silver sterling alloy (troy weight) eighteen acres of 
upland, eight acres near the Clay Brook, and nineteen 
acres, probably in the same locality. Deacon John was son 
of John Fisher, Esq., and grandson of Captain John. Capt. 
Ebenezer Fisher, a younger brother of Deacon John, lived in 
the old house on the easterly corner of Central Avenue and 
Charles River Street. This house was for twenty years in 
a ruinous condition, and was burned on July 3, 1896. 
There is a photograph of it in the Needham Free Public 
Library. According to the inscription on his monument 
Capt. Ebenezer Fisher died March 13, 1798, aged seventy- 
seven years. 

The map of 1771 indicates a mill at Charles River Village, 



26 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

on the Needham side, and calls it Fisher's Mill. The Samuel 
Fisher house, better known as the "Liddy" Fisher house, 
stood on Charles River Street, and was burned on June 5, 
1883. In February, 1842, the Rev. Daniel Kimball described 
some of the houses in town that were more than a century 
old. Of the Fisher house he said that it was then the home 
of the very aged widow of Samuel Fisher, that one room 
retained the characteristics of early times, with seven un- 
stained and unpainted oak beams, of a rich brown color, 
with other beams at right angles, which crossed a ceiling so 
low that Mr. Kimball could barely stand upright. " Liddy's " 
sister boarded babies and small children, and some were born 
and died in this house. Philip Adsit Fisher has published 
a good genealogy of the Fisher Family. 

FISK — FISKE 

Moses Fisk of Natick, "Cordwainer", bought of Samuel 
Morse of Dedham, "Husbandman", fifty-nine acres with 
buildings in Needham, for five hundred and fifty "Bills of 
Credit". Apparently this land was west of Bacon Street. 
The witnesses to the deed, June, 1741, were Joseph Drury 
and Hezekiah Broad; John Death was the Justice of the 
Peace. In 1769 Moses Fisk, then of Needham, and Samuel 
Morse, "Yeoman", bought of Josiah Morse of Needham, 
"Yeoman", and Anna his wife, for £100, twenty-seven 
acres in Needham on the north side of the road now Bacon 
Street, "thro the middle of the house belonging to the said 
Timothy Bacon", viz., one half of a house and barn together 
with a well privilege. Also forty acres in Needham, which 
bounded on land of Henry and Timothy Bacon, and ex- 
tended to within two rods of Joseph Drury's house. This 
property was sold in 1772 by Moses Fisk, "Adm'or on the 
Estate of Moses Fisk late of Said Needham", and Samuel 
Morse to Benjamin Ward of Waltham, "Yeoman", for 
£170. The same grantors also conveyed for £73, is. to 
Mr. Ward seven and three fourths acres in Needham, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 27 

bounded mostly on the land of Timothy Bacon, but partly 
on the highway and on land of Joseph Drury and Moses 
FIsk, In 1774 Joshua Fisk of Natick, "Husbandman", 
Enoch FIsk and Elijah FIsk, both of Needham, sold for 
£180 to Moses FIsk of Needham three parcels of land, — 
fifty acres and buildings, which was all of the remaining 
real estate in Needham of their late father, Moses FIsk, and 
eight acres of woodland and thirty of upland and woodland 
in Natlck. In 1785 Moses Fisk bought of Jeremiah Smith 
seventy-three and one quarter acres in Needham for £150. 
The Samuel Fisk house stood on Grove Street, which Is now 
in Natlck. The residence of Mr. Walcott occupies the site 
according to Horace Mann, who also said that the Morse 
house in Natick, built in 1708, was at one time the home of 
Moses FIsk. Moses FIsk died February 18, 1770, aged 
fifty-seven years, and his son Moses died October 2, 18 10, 
aged sixty-five years; both are buried In the old graveyard 
in North Natlck, where rest many former Inhabitants of 
Needham Leg. 

The Fiske homestead In Wellesley Hills belonged to Isaiah 
FIsk, and was built in 1804 by his father, Enoch FIsk, Esq. 
On July 15, 1833, Isaiah deeded one hundred and eighty- 
eight acres, with buildings, to Moses, Jr., and to Emery 
Fisk, and a year later Emery became the sole owner. The 
house is now (1909) the home of his two granddaughters, 
one of whom, Isabella H. Fiske, is an authoress. 

Enoch FIsk, Esq., was a large stout man of whom various 
anecdotes are told in connection with his trips to Boston 
with barrels of cider, which he sold there. "Squire" FIsk 
was known to the Irreverent as "Old Snap". 

FROST 

Thomas Frost, son of Samuel of Billerlca, and grandson 

of Elder Edmund Frost of Cambridge, lived In 1724 In the 

easterly portion of The Leg, east of "The Framingham 

Road". On December 17, 1728, he sold to John Goodenow 



28 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

twenty-six acres bounded west by land of the grantee, north 
by the brook, and east and south by land of the grantor for 
£80, 28., 6d.; no wife signed the deed. 

FULLER 

In 1708 John Fuller conveyed to his son Thomas several 
parcels of land at a place called "Burch Plain", and at 
"Burch Meadow". The first parcel, twenty acres, had been 
granted to Thomas, father of John, by the town of Dedham, 
the second, twenty-seven acres, was called "Burch Plain 
neck", the third was one acre, and the fourth, two acres near 
North Hill, had on it Thomas's house and barn, and all 
three parcels last mentioned had been granted to the said 
John by the town. The deed also included rights in twenty- 
one acres that had been granted to his son, Thomas. The 
whole property was valued at £50. There seems to be no 
doubt that the house referred to in this deed is the old Mills 
house, now owned by the heirs of Curtis M<=Intosh, and sup- 
posed to be the oldest house in Needham. The great chimney 
has been removed since 1880 by Mr. M'^Intosh.^ Lieut. 
Oliver Mills, who lived on this farm at the time of the Revo- 
lution, was a grandson of Thomas Fuller, the grantee in the 
deed of 1708. It does not appear that this deed of John 
Fuller to his son included a twenty-acre tract, to the west- 
ward of the house, which together with other land he had 
bought of Nathaniel Richards in 1706. In 1702 Thomas Ful- 
ler, Jr., bought of Nathaniel Richards thirty-six acres, appar- 
ently In the same locality, for £30. John Fuller died January 
15, 1719, aged seventy-four (monument). 

At the time of the incorporation of Needham, Robert 
Fuller, a brother of Thomas, lived in the ancient house off 
Forest Street, now owned by Charles H. Snow. About 

* Besides the loss of its chimney the Fuller-Mills house has undergone altera- 
tions; the writer has a rough draft of the interior before the changes were made. 
Several of our ancient houses have been spoiled within recent years by the tearing 
out of the great chimneys. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 29 

1735 a Fuller built the house at the corner of Forest Street 
and the road which has no name, but which ought to be 
called Fuller's Road, or Fuller's Lane. Both of these houses 
were Fuller homesteads for a long period, and both are in 
fair condition. Some ninety years ago Abijah Greenwood, 
afterward Captain Greenwood, bought the Moses Fuller 
house, the later one, and lived in it for more than sixty years. 
Extensive changes were made in the general appearance of 
this house in 1888, or 1889, by John Wesley Greenwood, and 
in 1902 Benjamin Lentell took out the ancient chimney. 
The late Charles Curtis Greenwood, a local antiquary, con- 
sidered the Robert Fuller house the second oldest house 
in town. In 1710 John Fuller conveyed to his son Hezekiah 
forty-three acres on the Great Plain, south of Webster Street, 
for £26, and in 1714 the latter bought of Michael Dwight 
forty-three acres at the west end of the Great Plain for £39. 
About 1742 Robert Fuller of Needham sold to Hezekiah of 
Dedham thirty-five acres and a barn, and one half of a 
dwelling, for £119. The land was on the road leading past 
the house of James Kingsbery, and over Rosemary Plain. 
The inventory of Hezekiah Fuller of Dedham, 1757, shows 
that he owned a piece of meadow and upland, partly in 
Dedham and partly in Needham, "Called Wolf Pitt", and 
also several woodlots in Needham; — one called "School 
Ground", one "Causey Lott", two lots at Pine Swamp, one 
joining Pine Swamp, one on the hill "Called North Hill", 
and other parcels of land. Capt. Robert Fuller died March 
3, 1769, in his eighty-fourth year. In 1842 the Eleazer 
Fuller house near the "Boulevard" and Prince Street was 
then one of the ancient houses, and the Amos Fuller house 
on Nehoiden Street, built about 1754, was another. The 
latter was sadly out of repair when bought prior to 1830 by 
the Rev. William Ritchie, who put it in order, and after his 
death in 1842 it became the home of the Newell family. 
In 1900 Augustus William Newell, then its owner, inserted 
new sills, and made other repairs. 



30 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The homestead of Capt. Jonathan Fuller was near the 
brook on the west side of Great Plain Avenue at the junction 
with Brook Street. About 1835 he built the house, nearer 
the present Needham line, where Edward Granville Fuller 
lived. Jonathan Fuller, Jr., built the house now standing 
on the opposite side of the road from the old homestead, and 
northeast of it. 

Jonas Fuller, descended from John Fuller, an early settler 
of Newton, came to Needham from Newton, and died here 
June 20, 1799. Ezra Fuller, son of Jonas, was born in a house 
that formerly stood on the east corner of Webster Street and 
Great Plain Avenue, and which was earlier a Coller home- 
stead; the cellar hole remained to modern times. Ezra Fuller, 
Jr., son of Ezra, was born In an old house that stood where 
is now the dwelling of the late Amasa Kingsbury on Green- 
dale Avenue, and in his youth he lived on the place later 
owned by Charles H. Flagg on Brookside Road. Mr. Fuller, 
who at the time this was written was the second oldest man 
in town, was a carpenter In his young days, but cut his 
knee, with such serious results that he could not continue 
his occupation, and became a shoemaker. He said that he 
gave ten pairs of shoes at $1 per pair for a clock, which sixty 
years later he repurchased for $1 of Charles H. Flagg, 
husband of his niece, who then lived in Cochltuate. Mrs. 
Ezra Fuller, Jr. (Catharine Elizabeth Smith), was a bright, 
interesting old lady, as the writer remembers her, who had 
an excellent memory, and was an authority on events and 
people of the past. She said that in 1842 Mr. Talbot took 
the first daguerreotypes that were taken in Needham, and 
that he made his headquarters at the tavern hall, and lec- 
tured there. Ezra Fuller, Jr., at that time lived in the old 
tavern. Timothy Otis Fuller, a man of many accomplish- 
ments, who excels as a botanist and ornithologist, is a son 
of Ezra Fuller, Jr. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 31 

GARFIELD 

The Garfields were not early settlers In Needham, and 
the family name has long since disappeared from our voting 
lists, but their connection with this town entitles them to a 
place In Its history. Lieut. Moses Garfield came here at 
the close of the Revolutionary War, and was for many years 
a prominent citizen, and a liberal supporter, at different 
periods, of the two Congregational Churches. He had a 
farm extending on both sides of the Turnpike, south of 
Cedar Street. This farm contained several hundred acres, 
and, according to the tax lists of 1834, Moses Garfield had 
more cattle, of a taxable age, than any one else In town; he 
then had thirty-five cows and ten oxen. In 1838 he was 
taxed for four houses. He lived In the house with brick 
ends, on the south corner of the streets, and here his great- 
grandson, John, who has lived for more than sixty-five years 
in Boston, was born In 1835. George Garfield, only son of 
Lieutenant Moses, and father of Moses, 2d, lived In the 
house west of the turnpike. Moses Garfield, 2d, removed to 
Boston, and at one time Timothy Newell Smith, another 
Needham man, lived there In the same house with Mr. 
Garfield. Three sons of the latter are locomotive engineers, 
and John, previously referred to, is occasionally seen In 
Needham. While the writer and Mr. Garfield were looking 
at the very strong tomb of Lieut. Moses Garfield, in the 
old burying-ground, their attention was called to the length 
of the lower granite slab, and to the fact that the granite 
blocks were laid on lead. Mr. Garfield stated that when 
the granite was put in place planks were laid on the stone, 
which was beaten down on the lead with sledge hammers. 
The tomb is also cemented inside. In September, 1880, 
Moses Garfield, 2d, visited the old burying-ground for the 
first time in thirty years, and was accompanied by his son 
John. On October 5, a week later, the old tomb was opened 
to receive the remains of the elder of the two. 



32 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

GAY 

Jonathan Gay, who bought the "Dedham School Farm", 
also purchased of Andrew Dewing In 1702 four acres on the 
road from his house to Natick, and in 1710 they exchanged 
some land. Gay is an ancient name In the history of Need- 
ham, as John Gay owned land, toward Natick, as early as 
1653, and had in 1670 a meadow near Wolf Pit Hill. In 
1683 Samuel Gay bought eight acres near "South Plain", 
and near his own land, of Capt. Daniel Fisher for forty 
shillings and seven and one half acres of land. In 1759 the 
estate of Hezekiah Gay of Dedham was divided, and the 
dower included, besides the home lot, twelve acres in two 
lots In Needham. The eldest son, Hezekiah of Needham, 
was to have seven acres In Needham, with a barn thereon, 
near other land formerly deeded to him, son Aaron sixteen 
acres, also near Hezeklah's In Needham. The other heirs 
were Samuel, John, Nathaniel and their sister, Mary 
Richards. Jonathan Gay was appointed at different dates 
before 1700 to perambulate the town lines for Dedham, and 
was a surveyor of highways in 1708, '11, and a fence viewer 
In 1710, '11. 

GILL 

John Gill was a field driver In Dedham In 1698. In 1701 
he bought of John Eaton eight acres near Maugus Hill, 
with land of Samuel Ware on the west, Gill's own land on 
the east, and "Wast" land on the north. John Gill died 
January 26, 1755. 

GOODENOW 

In 1724 and 1730 John Goodenow lived, according to the 
old maps, on Bacon Street, where did the late Edmund M. 
Wood, probably In the same house. Mr. Goodenow is said 
to have built this house In 1718, and his children another 
house to the south of It about 1738; the latter, which is on 
Marlon Street, Is, or was recently, the residence of H. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 33 

Bradford Colburn. Robert Jennison recorded In his note 
book that he raised Isaac Goodenow's house in 1738. Capt. 
John Goodenow was a member of the Natick Church, and 
his wife, Ruth, was admitted to full communion there in 
1732. Isaac and other Goodenows were members of this 
Church later, and children of Captain John and of Isaac were 
baptized. Mrs. John Goodenow was a daughter of Isaac 
and Sybilla Rice, granddaughter of Matthew and Martha 
(Lamson) Rice, and great-granddaughter of Edmund Rice, 
the latter an early and prominent settler in Sudbury. The 
late Horace Mann said that he found evidence that Capt. 
John Goodenow acquired two hundred and fifty acres in 
Needham Leg, that had belonged to a Rice. Lieut. Andrew 
Dewing, the first of that name, married Lydia, daughter of 
John Goodenow of Sudbury. 

HALL 

Thomas Hall was a constable in Dedham in 1702, fence 
viewer in 1704, '05, '09, surveyor of highways in 1706, '09, 
and was taxed in Needham in 171 2. Many years later 
Thomas and David Hall, who are said to have been identical 
with two sons of John Hall of Newton, came to reside in 
The Leg at the base of the hill, on the west side of the road, 
some distance south of where the Waban Conservatories are. 
On December 17, 1761, David Hall was admitted to the 
Natick Church. In 1762 Robert Jennison "finished" a 
house for Thomas Hall. One, or more, of this family of 
Halls is said to have had a blacksmith's shop at the corner 
of Bacon and Walnut Streets. Dorothy ("Dolly") Hall was 
a successful teacher in the West End, and elsewhere, for 
many years. In November, 1761, "29 Dorothy JEtat. 5 & 
Mary ^tat. 2 Children of David & Dorothy Hall" were 
baptized (Natick Church records). The brick school-house 
of the West End was a short distance southwest of the Hall 
farm, and in the easterly corner of what is now the John 
Bacon, 3d, estate. 



34 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

HAWES 

Edward Hawes, who kept the boys in order In the Dedham 
Meeting-house, and who was by trade a lather and "daber" 
(painter), had several grants of land in what is now Needham 
in 1659- , Including some near the Watertown line. Weston 
was then a part of Watertown. After the Incorporation of 
Needham, the Hawes family had a mill on Hawes Brook, 
which Is south of Blossom Street, In a territory once known 
as Hawes Hundred. Many years later the mill was In the 
possession of the Lokers. John Loker was of a Sudbury 
family, and was taxed in Needham in 17 12. Horace Mann 
stated that the old road leading to the mill, and the cellar 
of the Hawes house were visible, and that the Lokers early 
owned two hundred and fifty acres of land In Needham. 
Edward Hawes had land at "Burch plaine" In 1680, which 
land appears to be Identical with the Hawes Hundred. 
Joseph "Haws" was a field driver in Dedham in 1704, '10, 
and died In Needham March 8, 1756, aged ninety-two years; 
his wife, Deborah, died July 25, 1752, in her eighty-fourth 
year. The will of Joseph Hawes was dated October 8, 1745, 
and named wife Deborah, daughter Deborah, sons Joseph, 
Josiah, Jeremiah and David, which latter died before his 
father. This will also mentioned a grandson, Jonathan 
Hawes, and other children of son Jonathan, who was then 
deceased, besides granddaughters Sarah, Anna and Eliza- 
beth. Son Josiah was to be the executor and to have the 
homestead after the death of his mother. Land at Oak Hill 
was part of the estate. 

The inventory of son Joseph of Needham was dated In 
1728, and amounted to £264, i6s., 6d. The will of son David, 
also of Needham, was made March 16, 1744/5, ^^^ S^^e 
£20 to Deborah Pratt, and the residue of the estate to Jere- 
miah Hawes, his brother. In 1742 the estate of son Jonathan 
had been appraised at £159, i6s. Robert Jennlson "fin- 
ished" a house for Jeremiah Hawes In 1745, and one for 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 35 

Joseph Hawes in 1771. The latter year "J." Hawes lived 
west of Blossom Street, and not far from the Weston 
line. 

Formerly a road began west of the house of the late 
William Lyon, near a pine tree on Wellesley Avenue, and 
ran southwesterly over the hill, about a rod east of the exist- 
ing wall, and came into the other road (Great Plain Avenue), 
west of the house of Edward Granville Fuller. An old 
culvert remains over the brook on the west slope of the hill, 
and formerly a large oak and a chestnut tree stood on the 
top of the hill, and probably indicated the site of the house 
of Joseph Hawes, which was there in 1714. A short distance 
from these trees, on the west side of the hill, a cellar hole 
was visible a few years ago, but has since been obliterated. 
The large field southwest of the Lyon homestead is still 
known as "Hawes Field", and the land to the west of the 
wall as "Hawes Pasture". It is said that a road from Robert 
Fuller's house once crossed this road on the west slope of 
the hill, and connected with another road in Hawes Pasture. 
Hawes Field and Hawes Pasture are noted for the great 
profusion of violets, which annually attract the students at 
Wellesley College, and others. 

HUNTTING — HUNTING 

Elder John Huntting owned land on the "Great Playne" 
in 1643, and near the "herd yard", in what is now Wellesley, 
in 168 1. The inventory of Stephen Huntting, "Husband- 
man", was made in 1740, and amounted to £1579, iSs., 3d. 
His homestead and fifty acres on the south side of the road 
were appraised at £1000, land on the north side at £200; 
shoemaker's and tanner's tools were included, besides curried 
leather, and some books. Samuel Huntting was the ad- 
ministrator, and Robert Cook, Thomas Metcalf and Jona- 
than Smith were the appraisers. On April 5, 1742, Captain 
Cook was appointed guardian of the daughter, Abigail 
Huntting, aged eighteen years. The will of Jonathan 



36 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Huntting, dated June i6, 1768, Is a good sample of the more 
elaborate wills of that period. He gave his wife the west 
end of the house, the cellar under the east end, and two 
cows were to be summered and wintered for her use. She 
was also to have annually fire-wood, eight bushels of Indian 
corn, four bushels of rye, two of malt, a barrel of cider, 
thirty weight of beef, a "Spring PIgg or Shout fatted in 
the winter", "a Sufficiency of Sauce", also "£1=14=8" 
yearly, and "provision to attend the public worship of 
God Conveniently and decent burial after death". Ruth 
Smith had one half of the lot "In Hundreds North of Sher- 
born Road", also £10, one half of the personal property after 
the decease of the widow, and some books. Daughter 
Esther Ware had like bequests, with the exception of the 
books. Ebenezer Huntting was the executor and residuary 
legatee. Land in Pine Swamp was part of the residuary. In 
1771 one, or more, families of Hunttings lived on the west 
side of what Is now Washington Street, Wellesley, and 
southwest of Forest Street. 

KINGSBERY — KINGSBURY 

The Kingsberys who early settled In Needham were all 
grandsons of Joseph Kingsbery of Dedham. The name was 
sometimes written Kingsberry, but the Rev. Mr. Townsend 
usually spelled it In the Church records Kingsbury. Capt. 
Jonathan Gay was the first town clerk to adopt the modern 
spelling, recording In 1809 the name of Dea. Asa Kingsbury. 
It is said that the branch of the family descended from Joslah, 
to which Deacon Asa belonged, had occasionally used that 
spelling a generation or two before the Deacon's time. The 
race of Joslah Is now represented In Needham by George 
Lyman Kingsbury, and by Frederick Stillman Kingsbury, a 
grandson of the late Isaac Martin Kingsbury. The modern 
spelling has been in use In Needham for about a century, 
and In all branches of the family, as Is shown by autographs, 
although the voting list of 181 1 gives the old spelling, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 37 

KIngsbery, and there were members of the race that used 
that form even later. There seems to be no doubt that 
Kingsbury is historically correct. Josiah Kingsbery, eldest 
son of Sergeant Eleazer of Dedham, was elected constable 
in Dedham in 1710, but declined. In 1704/5 Eleazer Kings- 
bery deeded to his son Josiah about seventy-six acres, with 
the buildings, adjoining the hill called "Maugost Hill", and 
three acres of meadow, and in 1703 the son had bought of 
Isaac Parker, for £9, nine acres at Maugus Hill. In 1709 
Josiah paid to Joseph Commins of Dedham, carpenter, 
£12 for fourteen acres at Maugus Hill, and during several 
generations his family owned the farm now used by the 
Wellesley Country Club. In 171 2 Josiah was given sixteen 
acres east of his house-lot by his father, Eleazer. In 1729 
John Smith sold for £40 to Josiah Kingsbery seven and one 
half acres, on what is now Forest Street. Josiah's will is an 
elaborate document, dated April 14, 1739, and proved May 
18. He gave to his wife the southeast end of his dwelling- 
house "With half the Stack of Chimneys & the Cellar," 
and various parcels of land. He gave land in Oxford to his 
sons Josiah and Theodore, and mentioned his daughter 
Jemima and granddaughter Rachel Green. To his sons 
Jesse and Eliphalet he left his land in "The Hundreds", and 
to the former fifteen acres near " y ^ heard yard ", with a house 
and barn thereon,^ two parcels of land in Strife Meadow, 
fifteen acres that he bought of Joseph Boyden, and two hun- 
dred acres in "Lambs Town Number 35". He also gave 
to Jesse his interest in the swamp near Jonathan Dewing's, 
which he owned in common with Jonathan Huntting. 
Jesse and Eliphalet were each to pay to their sister 
Jemima £50 when she was eighteen years old, and Josiah 
and Theodore were jointly to pay her £10, los. Eliphalet 

^ The fifteen acres with the. buildings, which Josiah Kingsbery devised to his 
son Jesse, was the home of the latter, and the old house, still standing (191 1) at 
the corner of Washington and Kingsbury Streets, Wellesley, if not the one referred 
to in the will, is probably on the same site as the house that was there in 1739. The 
house has been modernized, particularly at the rear. 



38 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

was given a tract of land near "Maugrlat Hill", with dwell- 
ing house and orchard, land on "Rosemary Brook", two 
hundred acres in "Lamstown", number ii, one half of the 
meadow at Powell's Island, and the balance of the testator's 
portion of Strife Meadow; the latter meadow jointly with 
Jesse. Caleb and Elijah had the homestead, except what 
was set off as their mother's dower, and also various parcels 
of land. Caleb had the remaining half of the land at Powell's 
Island, and the personal property, but was to pay his brother 
James £200. Elijah was to have lot number 3 in "Lambs- 
town", now Hardwick. Jesse and Caleb were the executors. 
Josiah, the younger, was then living in Oxford, Massachusetts, 
but came to Needham to look after his interests. Capt. 
Caleb Kingsbery lived on the paternal homestead, and was 
father of Colonel Jonathan. The foregoing abstract of the 
will of Josiah Kingsbery is from the probate records, but 
the following interesting items were copied verbatim from 
the original will itself: "Item I glue & bequeath unto my 
Two Sons Josiah Kingsbury & Thodor Kingsbury & Thier 
ayres & afignes foreu Eaqualy to Each of them an Eaqual 
right all my wrIght — Title And intrest which I haue to 
amefsauge of Land Tenement of Land orchargs gardens 
meadows comons of pasture with thier & Euery of rights 
members hereditlments Situate In y® county of york within 
the Relme of England Caled & known by y^ Names of y« 
Lee croft Leesouth Field Lee clolce Lee covedroid Ect Lee 
crofmg Dales or by what other names It may be caled 
or known which is to be y® full share of my tow sons 
before named out of my Estate They being Indowed by 
my glueing them Deeds of Lands In oxford". Josiah 
Kingsbery died April 20, 1739, in his sixty-second year. 
His name is spelled Kingsbary on his gravestone, that of 
his son. Captain Caleb, who died In 1796, aged seventy-eight 
years, is given as Kingfbery on his stone, and that of his 
grandson. Colonel Jonathan, who died In 1806, aged fifty- 
live years, Kingsbury. All of the autographs of Josiah 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 39 

appear to be KIngsbery, and the spelling by scribes in 
deeds and wills is hardly worthy of consideration as con- 
trary evidence. 

Deacon Eleazer Kingsbery, brother of Josiah, lived north 
of the present Cedar Street, toward the Upper Falls. In 
1771 Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, son of Deacon Eleazer, lived 
about half a mile, a little west of north, from Silas Alden, 
whose home was vv^here William Emery Kurd's is now. Dea. 
Eleazer Kingsbery died January 27, 1767, aged eighty-four 
years, and Captain Eleazer died November 25, 1785, aged 
sixty-two; both are buried in the old graveyard. The fol- 
lowing abstract of the will of Eleazer Kingsbery of Needham, 
dated December 6, 1763, and proved February 20, 1767, is 
from the probate records. As was customary it begins with 
a lengthy declaration of faith, and hope of an immortal 
life, which may indicate that in his old age he did not fear 
dire results from his Anabaptist heresy. By his will he 
gave his son Eleazer sundry articles of personal property, 
including "one Chest that I keep my Writings in", with 
contents; daughters Esther Fuller and Lydia Newell were 
to have all of the remainder of his "indoor Moveables", 
except "my Books of Divinity & all other of my Books", 
which they were to share with their brother Eleazer. The 
said daughters were to have the meadow "Near the Bridge 
commonly called Kindricks Bridge", and woodland west of 
the meadow. Eleazer was also to pay them £1, los. each, 
lawful money, within a year. The two daughters had 
each one third of the livestock, and Eleazer, who was the 
residuary legatee, had the other third. Mr. Kingsbery 
refers to an ante-nuptial contract with his wife, who pre- 
sumably was living in 1763. There is no inventory on 
file. 

James Kingsbery, son of Nathaniel of Dedham, owned 
considerable land in Needham, including some of North Hill. 
He was the ancestor of Dea. Thomas Kingsbury and of Dea. 



40 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Lauren Kingsbury. James was a field driver in Dedham in 
171 1. In 1744 James Kingsbery deeded to his son John 
sixteen acres in the River Park, Home Park and Rosemary 
Meadow localities. The settlement of his estate does not 
appear in the probate records. James Kingsbery's grand- 
son, Jonathan Kingsbery, who was born in 1744, is said 
to have built the house still standing, although greatly 
changed, at the corner of Webster and Rosemary Streets. 
For many years it was the home of William Alden 
Kingsbury, a descendant of Josiah, first of that name in 
Needham. 

Timothy Kingsbery, a younger brother of James, lived a 
short distance southwest of the house of John J. Morgan, 
which was built about 1843 by Edgar K. Whitaker, who took 
down the old Kingsbery house, and used some of the timbers 
and other material in the western portion of the new dwelling. 
The house taken down was ancient, but probably not so old 
as the time of Deacon Kingsbery, who owned a farm extend- 
ing from the present Noyes Street to the Baptist Church, 
and on both sides of Great Plain Avenue. A small portion 
of this land is still possessed by his descendants. In 1727 
Timothy bought of John Gay of Dedham five acres at 
Broad Meadow for £40, los., and in 1730 he paid £3 to 
Eleazer May of Dedham for six acres at the Great Plain, 
with "Great Plain Ditch" on the north. Timothy was 
called a "Cordwainer" in the first deed. The will of Deacon 
Timothy Kingsbery was dated March 3, 1757, and proved 
October 31, 1760. He made an elaborate provision for the 
comfort of his wife, Hannah, giving her, in addition to food 
and fuel supplies, £3 per year, a bond of £60, and another 
bond, the latter signed by William Alderig. Son Timothy 
was to have £1, besides what he had already given him, 
daughter Mehetabel Kingsbery was given "all her House- 
hold Stuff & two Cows" and £40 in lawful money, and also 
"House room while she remains single & liberty of y^ fire". 
Daughter Ruth Aiding was to have land in "y® Rocks", 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 41 

north of the present Charles River Street, and east of 
Central Avenue; she was also to receive £26, 13s., 4d. 
Granddaughter Abia "Doged" was devised five acres in 
"Rosemer Meadow", granddaughter Aiding £20, grandson 
Nathaniel Kingsbery and granddaughter Hannah Kingsbery 
£1 each. "As to my Books I give them to my three Children 
all that I have not given away already with liberty for my 
beloved Wife to have any of them for to read in while She 
remains my Widow", 

His " Cloths " he gave to his grandsons Timothy and Moses 
Kingsbery, and the latter also had "my Shop tools Lasts & 
Leather". He gave to Moses Kingsbery, his son, his house 
and land, and "a little Yard Room with liberty to fetch 
Water & to Water Cattle on said side". Moses also had the 
land east of what is now Noyes Street, and "that Bond I 
received of my Son Timothy Kingsbury for my old place & 
part of my whom place & part of my House & Barn I give 
to my Grandson Moses Kingsbury".^ Moses, his grandson, 
was to pay the legacies, and was named executor together 
with Robert Fuller. The foregoing abstract is from the 
probate record, and not from the original will, which appears 
to be the only paper connected with the settlement of Dea. 
Timothy Kingsbery's estate that is recorded. The grave- 
stone of this deacon, who died October 5, 1760, is in the old 
burying-ground. The inventory, dated 1747, of Hezekiah 
Kingsbery, son of Dea. Timothy, amounted to £1200, old 
tenor, and included a wood lot in "The Rocks", and books 
valued at £3. The appraisers were Robert Cook, Eleazer 
Kingsbery and Ebenezer Skinner. 



' By "my old place" he probably meant the farm on South Street, where he had 
lived, and where his grandson Ensign Timothy Kingsbery resided in 1771. The In- 
gols house now occupies the site of the old Kingsbery homestead, or is very near. 
Cornet Timothy Kingsbery, father of the Ensign, is supposed to have lived on the 
place now owned and occupied by John J. A4organ. Nehoiden Street, as it is now 
called, formerly ran southerly through what is now the Morgan estate, instead of 
making a junction at right angles with Great Plain Avenue. The house at the corner 
of Great Plain Avenue and Noyes Street was built in 1801 by Daniel Kingsbury, 
son of Moses. 



42 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

LYON 

Ebenezer Lyon, Jr., and Abigail, his wife, were living in 
Needham in 1735, when their son Ebenezer was born. Some 
twenty years later Nathaniel Lyon came to Needham, per- 
haps from Roxbury, where his daughter, Hannah, was born 
in 1755, although her birth is recorded in Needham. Na- 
thaniel had a wife Mary, but there is nothing further in our 
records as to children of either of these families. 

Josiah Lyon and Sarah, his wife, were in Needham in 
1753, and he and his son, Josiah, who was born in 1755, 
served in the Revolution. Josiah and Sarah had six children, 
whose births were recorded in Needham, but none of their 
three sons appear to have established families here, and the 
more prominent Lyon family that came to town after the 
War of the American Revolution, although probably of the 
same lineage, can hardly claim to have been early settlers in 
this locality. 

Jacob and Jerusha (Tucker) Lyon came from Milton to 
Needham with eight sons, and were the ancestors of the 
Lyons prominent in the latter town in the nineteenth cen- 
tury. Jacob is remembered as an aged blind man. His 
grandson, Lemuel Lyon, the younger, died in Japan while 
United States consul there, and Dr. Israel Whitney Lyon, 
who died a few years since, resided in Washington, D. C, 
but was a benefactor of the First Church and Parish in 
Needham. The two Lyon houses on Walnut Street were 
built about 1800 by Mr. Bowditch, and were both on a 
single acre of land. Edward Lyon of Wellesley was born in 
the one next to the river, and his father, William, in the 
other house, which had belonged to Lemuel Lyon, father 
of William, and which was removed in 1901 by order of the 
Metropolitan Park Commissioners. Peter Lyon, Esq., lived 
back of the North school-house, and gave for life to his 
brother, Seth, a lot of land adjoining on the east, and moved 
there a building from the Eleazer Kingsbery place, which 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 43 

was again moved, and not many years since was standing 
near the school-house. Amos Lyon dwelt in the house, built 
about 1800, which was recently removed from opposite 
St. John's Church, where it stood by some ancient willows. 
It is now some distance to the eastward, and has been turned 
half-way round and remodelled. 

MACKINTOSH — M^'INTOSH 

Col. William Mackintosh, or M'^Intosh, was born In Ded- 
ham, June 22, 1722, and came to Needham from Roxbury 
on May 23, 1764, having purchased the estate still owned 
by his descendants. The house he lived in was described as 
"venerable" by the Rev. Mr. Kimball in 1842, and was taken 
down by the Colonel's great-grandson, Curtis M'^Intosh, 
subsequent to 1887; the family have a photograph of it. 
Lieutenant Mackintash, or M^Intash, as the town clerks 
called him, soon became a prominent citizen of Needham, 
and as a colonel in the American Revolution was known as 
a brave and able ofhcer. Before he came to Needham, he 
had served with credit as an officer in the French and Indian 
War. Colonel Mcintosh, as he wrote his name In his latter 
years, had two sons who were soldiers of the Revolution, 
and another son. Dr. Nathan M'^Intosh, was one of the 
pioneers of the Marietta colony In Ohio, and his descendants 
are well known. During the Revolutionary War Colonel 
Mackintosh, or Mackintash, abandoned the spelling used 
by his ancestors, and by the Scotch clan, which is Clan 
Mackintosh, and wrote his name M^'Intosh, which form the 
majority of his descendants still use. In the Revolution were 
several rather prominent Southern officers named M'^In- 
tosh, and It is possible that the colonel from Massachusetts 
was Influenced by them. 

McINTIRE 

John Mclntire was living In Needham In 171 1, and the 
Mclntlres, Macentires, Mackintyres, McEntires, or Mack- 



44 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

intlres, as their surname is variously spelled by our town 
clerks, owned much land in the south part of the town, 
particularly on Charles River Street. They should not be 
confused with the M'^Intoshes, or Mackintoshes, as they 
are a totally distinct family. 

METCALF 

Thomas Metcalf, son of Michael Metcalf of Dedham, 
was an early inhabitant of Needham, and lived where is now 
the Convalescent Home of the Children's Hospital. In the 
house which he built dwelt his son Michael, the mathematical 
prodigy, who was the donor in 1769 of the land on which 
the Brick School was placed. This Thomas Metcalf, later 
Lieut, Thomas, had been a fence viewer in Dedham in 
1702. In 1727 he bought four acres of land near his own 
house and "Lying in the place Called Chestnut trees" 
from his neighbor, Robert Fuller. Lieutenant Metcalf died 
August 4, 1743, aged sixty-four years, and was buried in the 
old graveyard. His daughter, Esther, married John Harris 
of Brookline on April 16, 1747, and consequently Ensign 
Michael Harris and Capt. Michael Harris, son and grandson 
of John and Esther, lived on the Metcalf farm. About 1844 
Otis Sawyer, then owner, took down the old house, which 
was in fair condition, but small. 

MILLS 

In 1674 Samuel Mills of Dedham conveyed to his son 
Benjamin twenty acres bounded north on the Charles River, 
together with two "Cow Comons"; the next year the town 
of Dedham granted Benjamin a small parcel adjoining. 
Benjamin was a surveyor of highways in 1702, '07, and on 
July 2, 1705, was licensed by the selectmen of Dedham to 
keep a public house at the Lower Falls, although most of 
the Mills land was at the Upper Falls, and east of the present 
Central Avenue. Judge Sewall records in his famous diary, 
under date of July 22, 1712, that he set out for Natick and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 45 

"At Mill's the President meets us". Benjamin, and his 
son of the same name, repeatedly received the usual bounty 
of ten shillings for killing a wolf, and perhaps had the char- 
acteristics of some of their descendants, who have been 
"mighty hunters". On May 2, 1704, Jonathan Gay sold 
to Benjamin Mills, "Miller", fifteen acres at the "Landing 
Place", near Kendrlck's Bridge, and bounded south by 
Pine Plain. The same day Mr. Gay sold to Samuel Mills 
for £66 fifty acres of orchard, upland and meadow, with a 
dwelling house, it being a part of the land said Gay had 
purchased from Benjamin Mills. 

In 1703 Benjamin Mills gave his son Joseph a house and 
barn with fifty acres near the Charles River, which prop- 
erty had been given him by his father, Samuel Mills of 
Dedham, who had died January 7, 1694/5. 

In 1704 Benjamin Mills deeded to his son Benjamin fifty 
acres along the river, and west of the present Kendrick 
Street. 

It Is not to be assumed that all the land referred to In these 
deeds is within the limits of Needham, but most of It is. 
On this territory dwelt for several generations more than one 
Mills family descended from Samuel. In 1706 Benjamin 
Mills, Sr., deeded to his son Joseph certain tracts of land, 
one of them containing eighty acres, and In 1710/11 he gave 
him five acres more. In 1706 Benjamin Mills, Jr., and his 
brother Samuel had quitclaimed to their brother Joseph 
the land which their grandfather, Samuel, had given to 
their father, and he in turn to Joseph. In 1708 Benjamin and 
Joseph sold Samuel five acres for £4. The Benjamin Mills 
house was considered very old In 1842, and was then the 
abode of a Woodcock family; it was burned many years 
since. The William Mills house, taken down by Cyrus G. 
Upham in 1868, was built as early as 1715, and in October 
of that year the selectmen laid out a road past it (town 
records. Vol. I, p. 168). Mr. Kimball described this house In 
a Lyceum lecture In 1842. It had a gambrel roof, and an 



46 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

enormous beam crossed the top of one room. Mrs. Charles 
C. Greenwood has a drawing of this ancient building, made 
in 1 86 1 by Timothy Newell Smith. 

On May 2, 1717, Samuel Hunting, "Boatmaker" of Bos- 
ton, and Hannah, his wife, Samuel, Benjamin, and Mary 
Frothingham of Boston, sold to Benjamin Mills, Jr., of 
Needham, for £30, sixteen acres in Natick Dividend, and 
four acres in other dividends near the Lower Falls, abutting 
on land of Benjamin Mills, Sr. Benjamin Mills, Jr., died 
September 10, 1720, in his forty-sixth year, and his inven- 
tory (£701) included a dwelling-house and land, fulling-mill 
and shop, one half of a sawmill and of a corn-mill, and also 
his timber for half a corn-mill. His widow was named Susan. 
In the old town he was a fence viewer and surveyor of high- 
ways in 1709, and constable in 171 1. The abstracts of a 
number of Mills deeds, wills and inventories are before the 
writer, but are of much later date than those quoted. John 
Mills, son of Benjamin, Jr., is the ancestor of all the Millses 
now living in Needham, and a few facts as to his estate, 
which was appraised at £1050, is., lod. in 1763, may be of 
interest. The details in the original papers are quite lengthy, 
and the inventory is an interesting document. Among 
other items were "two Pigeon Nets", which recalls the fact 
that, in his time, wild pigeons were very numerous at cer- 
tain seasons, and were taken with nets. He had one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, of which the larger portion was near 
his home by the river, and was a part of the ancestral estate. 
In the allotment of dower to his widow, Judith (Fuller), are 
full descriptions of the real estate, sixty acres of which 
were near her father's residence. She was to have about 
thirty acres "With the Wefterly part of said Houfe; the 
South Scaffold in the barn, and the middle Ten feet Square 
of y® Cow houfe under the Same, and a priviledge in the 
Barn floor". With John Fisher she settled the estate, and 
the children were, — Richard, who had a double portion, 
Oliver, who apparently was the first Mills to reside in the 




FULLER-MILLS HOUSE 




PAINE-MILLS HOUSE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 47 

Fuller-Mills house, Mrs. Judith Shumway, John, Timothy, 
Nathaniel, Lemuel, Mary, Moses and Adassah; all were 
minors except the three eldest. John and Timothy were over 
fourteen years of age, and chose Eleazer Kingsbery as their 
guardian. Joseph Cheney, Michael Metcalf and Thomas 
Parker were the appraisers, and Joseph Newell, Michael 
Metcalf and John Jones made the division of the estate, for 
which Newell and Metcalf received 5s., ^d. each, for two 
days' time. John Mills died June 8, 1762, not November 
8, as Is stated In George Kuhn Clarke's "Wellesley Epi- 
taphs". Within fifty years a barn, one hundred feet long, 
stood near the road to the west of the Fuller-Mills house on 
Great Plain Avenue, the cow yard coming close to the parlor 
windows. Mrs. Judith Mills, widow of John, was an excel- 
lent woman, but an invalid for twenty-eight years, and 
bedridden thirteen years. She died March 18, 1800, aged 
eighty-one. See Columbian Minerva, Dedham, March 27, 
1800. She had ten children, most of whom survived her, and 
left forty grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchil- 
dren. For sixty-three years she was a member of the First 
Church In Needham. 

In 1771 Benjamin Mills lived near the river, some dis- 
tance west of Kendrlck's Bridge; the land Is now owned 
by the city of Newton. William Mills lived In Hahaton 
Field, and two or more Mills families near The Hundreds. 
Robert Jennlson "finished" a house for Amos Mills In 1756, 
and one for Abijah Mills in 1761. In 1771 Oliver Mills 
lived In the old Fuller-Mills house on Great Plain Avenue, 
and David Mills and another Mills on South Street. The 
bridge between Walnut and Wales Streets, at the Lower 
Falls, is called on the map of 1771 Mills Bridge, but prob- 
ably took its name from the mills near by, rather than from 
the Mills family, although It is not far from the site of the 
tavern kept by Benjamin Mills In 1705. Rufus Mills, a 
descendant of Lieut. Oliver, was a prominent citizen, and 
in 1839 kept a store on Central Avenue, in the locality 



48 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

known as "Dog Corner". The inventory of Jacob Mills, 
son of Benjamin, Sr., was made in 1723, and shows that he 
owned a small homestead, and had been a "Cordwainer". 

In 1727 Ebenezer Mills deeded to Isaac Mills fifty-six 
acres, near the Charles River, and in 1729 William and Su- 
sannah Bodingham sold to Ebenezer Mills several parcels of 
land, which had been conveyed to the said Susannah 
when she was a Trowbridge; ^ sixteen acres of said land had 
formerly belonged to the grantee. In 1729 Ebenezer Mills 
sold to Robert Fuller ninety acres, and in 1730 sixty acres, 
for £140 and £40 respectively. This tract of land is now 
known as "Home Park", and it was the scene of Mr. Mun- 
son's enterprise. In 1730 John Woodcock sold to Ebenezer 
Mills, for £16, thirty acres with dwelling, joining on the east 
land of Robert Fuller, and near the house of the said Mills. 

In 1727 Joseph Mills, before referred to, bought of John and 
Judith Rice and Nathaniel Tolman eighteen acres presum- 
ably in the east part of the town. The estate of Joseph Mills 
was divided in 1746, and his heirs were, — son Joseph of 
Natick, sons Jonathan and David of Needham, James 
Boyden and wife Hannah, of Wrentham, and George Mary- 
field and wife Abigail, of Dorchester. Joseph Mills's wife 
apparently was not living in 1746, and the division included 
land given her by her father. In a deed of Joseph Mills to 
David Mills, 1738, the blacksmith's shop and all pertaining to 
it were reserved. In 1741, Hannah, wife of Joseph, with his 
consent, had conveyed to their son Jonathan five acres of 
meadow near "Horse Plain", which land had been devised to 
her by her father, Jonathan Gay. Three days later Jonathan 
Mills deeded this land to his father; it was near the latter's 
house. Jonathan Mills's inventory, 1747, amounted to 
£843, 14s., 6d., old tenor, and included the homestead, his 
right in Samuel Mills's estate, a lot called "hob Hill", gun, 
sword, two chests, etc. 

* William Bodinham and Susanna Trowbridge, both of Needham, were mar- 
ried, on March 29, 1728; she was perhaps the widow of Thomas Trowbridge. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 49 

Mrs. Caroline Kilmer wrote that Joseph Mills's house 
stood where the Heidtke house is on South Street, and that 
it was burned. Opposite to this house is the cellar hole of 
another old dwelling, either burned or taken down within 
the memory of some now living, Mrs. Kilmer also stated 
that her great-grandfather, David Mills, built the "Bodge 
House" about 1752. This house is also on South Street, 
and standing in 191 1. 

NOTES FROM THE ACCOUNT BOOKS OF WILLIAM MILLS 

Mrs. Henry F. May of Needham, who was Clara M. 
Kingsbury, daughter of Dea, Thomas Kingsbury, has two 
old account books of her ancestor, William Mills, who was 
born in 1718. From these books we may learn the names of 
some of the ministers who preached in Needham after the 
death of Mr. Townsend, and before Mr. West came. Mr. 
Mills recorded their texts, and the substance of their dis- 
courses, or such portions as impressed him. The books also 
contain records of a considerable number of births and deaths, 
some of which are not found in the town books. There are 
various transactions as to cows, sheep and pigs, but the 
principal charges that Mr. Mills made were for "wefing" 
(weaving). He had dealings with "docter Wheet" from 
1754, or earlier, extending over a series of years. There are 
charges for "pigins", which were worth in 1755 six shillings 
for a dozen and a half. Presumably these were wild pigeons 
captured in nets in July, August and September, the sales 
being in those months. 

The following items are inserted in this book to secure 
their preservation: 

Auguft the 3 1763 enoch mills put his Sholder out and 
Auguft the 14 I deter pond Set it | Simeon Mills the Son of 
William Mills and Sarah Mills his wife Dedceaft, | February 
y 8 : 1765. Simeon mills son to william Mills and Sarah 
Mills I his wife decefed January ye 28-1772 | August y^ 4 
1771 mother Whittemore the granmothe"" to thefe Children | 



50 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Septembr y^ 30 1780 my wife died in ye 47- yer of her age [ 
Enoch was Born may ye 27 1759: on Sabathday Rhoda mills 
Born one frida January y^ 2: | I76i°°frida Simeon mills 
Born auguft ye 18. 1762- | Sarah mills Born may ye 30 
1764 wendsday Jemima mills Born march ye 10 1766 born 
on Alonday | Charlotte mills Born may ye 19 1768 one 
thurfday 7 | Simeon mills Born June ye 13 1770- Leui mills 
Born October ye 7. oclock morning | 1772 on Wednsday on 
Wednsday (sic) The record of Levi's birth is repeated, 
and states that he was born in the "morning about 
8 oclock". I 

October ye 31. 1772 I was greueresly hurt by my Cart the 
oxen rining | away with me | Jermiah eaton married febuary 
28 1751 I 

May the 24: 1743- James mills Born m 24 | march the 
16 : 1745 James mills died | January the 20 . 1745 moses 
mills Born febuary the i . moses mills died- | 1745 God 
hath Remoued two derly beloued Childirns from me The | 
Lord fanctfie this his hand unto us for good | October y^ 
15 . 1741 then ware we married William mills and hannah 
mills I July The Sixteenteth William mills July 16. W°* 
Born 1746 I November : 5: 17 18 William mills Jieuner Born 
hannah mills born July 5 1721 | October 15: 1741 then ware 
we married hannah and william Mills ] The Berth of my 
mother waf In ye yer 1691 who was the Dafter of | Ebenezer 
ware [rest of this entry illegible]. | December y® 31- 1736 
Sarah Whittemore Born July y®- 5 1758 then were | we 
marrid May ye 19: 1768 Charlotte mills Bornonthesday 
mornen | about i [or 7?] oclock Simeon mills born June 
ye 13: on wensday morn- | en 1770- | January y^ 28 1770 
Simeon mills died bein Spult the day before | [Several of 
the foregoing entries are repeated later in the same book, 
apparently in the same hand-writing.] hannah Mills 
born June the 3 1748 James mills Born the 22: ^ January 

1 The entry "the 22:" is written over the word "Born," and it is not clear 
whether it is a correction of "y^ 30," or not. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 51 

y« I 30 1750 Esther Mills Born December y® 10- 1752 I 
Enoch mills - Born May the 27 - 1759 one Sabath day | 

[The record of the births of Rhoda, Simeon and Sarah 
Mills is repeated, and it is stated that Simeon was born 
on "Wendse", and Sarah on "Election day".] hannah 
mills mard to David Richards on Sept the 13 : 1778. | Eulaha 
eton born July the : 21 : 1763- | 

auguft 14- 1754 wheet this yer for to bait pigins is one 

and 

bufhel-h 2- 12-6 1 december . 29 1748 then Caime the iirft 
Snow that was Come. | december 3: 1747 then Came the 
firft fnow that was depe and uery ted- [ ious a uery hard 
winter it was in deed | November y® 21: 1772 thanksgiuen 
day the weeke before thanksgiuen my fon | william mills 
Caime down from Warwick to borde at my houfe and to 
worke | for himselfe and I gaue him Cole wood about fifteen 
Cord and 2 lode of | wood to Cart down to bofton ] my fon 
fet of to Warwick Apriel y® 13- 1772 | July the -8 - 1757 - on 
friday about a quater after 2 oclok there was ] a ConCid- 
rabel earthquake it femed for to come from the eft and to | 
go of west there was a Ueri high Wind at that ueri ins* [ 
January y® 10 1750 one goine to bofton to tend Cort and 
one January y® | 22 one iorny and one the 23 : 3- 0-0 
of this was for to taind | Cort before the gouner and Counsel | 
In the yer 1750 in January the 23 their was a most teribl: 
and dis | trefmg ftorme of Raine and wind which Blew 
down buldings Chimbles | and barns Multituds of trees 
and meiger Sheep and Much wounded \ march 4 and 5 day 
Ueri grait ftorm of fnow | Nouember the 15 1756 at 2 of the 
Clok at night their was a Concirabel | earth quake it [illegible] 
and windors it Caime from the foweft and we [ [illegible] 
weare in formd that it was tereribel at Lisbon 

MORSE 

Samuel Morse, son of Daniel of Sherborn, and grandson 
of Samuel Morse of Dedham, is said to have settled in Need- 
ham Leg, as it was later called, in 1704, and to have been 



52 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the pioneer there. His first dwelling was near the residence 
of John W. Walcott, and south of the Wight place, accord- 
ing to Horace Mann. Robert Jennison "finished" a house 
for Samuel Morse in 1745. The original houses in this 
region were rude, and some of them remained unfinished for 
many years; those standing in modern times were built 
later than the first settlement. The lands in "The Leg" 
were considered the best in Needham. 



NEWELL 

Josiah Newell, son of Isaac Newell of Roxbury, was taxed 
in Needham in 1712, and he and his descendants were prom- 
inent here. They owned upward of two hundred acres, 
some of it in Broad Meadow, but most of it in the south part 
of the town near the river. The oldest Newell house was 
standing seventy-five years ago in Charles H. W. Foster's 
field, near the hill, west of Central Avenue and south of 
Charles River Street. Josiah Newell died May 8, 1759, 
aged seventy-nine years, according to his gravestone, but 
the Church records give the date of his death as May 14th. 
His son, Dea. Josiah Newell, also known as "Squire" 
Newell, died December 13, 1792, aged eighty-four years, and 
the latter's son, Capt. Josiah Newell, died in 181 2. In 1771 
Dea. Josiah Newell lived where does Nathaniel Wales,^ and 
Timothy Newell had his home on the "Griggs Place" on 
South Street. Frederick Haynes Newell, director of the 
United States Reclamation Service, is of the Needham 
family, and has shown interest in this history. Josiah 
Newell, from whom the bridge takes its name, was a manu- 
facturer living on the Dover side in the early part of the 
last century, and his hall, known both as Noanet Hall and 
Newell's Hall, was not far from the river, on land later 
owned by Mrs. Shepard. This hall witnessed many festive 

1 The house owned and occupied for many years by Mr. Wales was built soon 
after 1830 by Jabez Smith. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 53 

gatherings, besides religious services, and the meetings of 
various societies, including the lyceum. 

OCKINTON 

Matthias Ockinton had the following grants from the 
Proprietors of Dedham, — two acres "neer Rosemary Plaine 
Pond", some land in "Burch Medow", twelve acres of 
upland and swamp, and also a tract "neer the Sloughs on 
the north side of the way that that leads from the great 
plain to Dewings". In addition he had a grant of five 
acres "neer North Hill", which strip of land now forms the 
easterly portion of the Clarke estate on Nehoiden Street. 
Matthias died suddenly January 10, 1754, N. S. In 1745 
William Ockinton mortgaged to Nicholas Salisbury of 
Boston, "Shop-keeper", thirty acres of land on the Great 
Plain which Ockinton had purchased of Thomas Keighly 
in 1742. The mortgage also included six acres in Broad 
Meadow which had formerly belonged to Thomas Fisher. 
Mrs. Ockinton's name was Hannah. In 1757 Josiah Newell 
was the guardian of David Ockinton, aged fourteen, and 
of Susannah Ockinton, both children of Thomas Ockinton, 
"Husbandman," who had died suddenly April 10, 1756. 

ORGILL 

In 1716 Joseph Cummins, late of Needham, "House- 
wright", sold to Richard "Orgels", "taylor", and wife 
Sarah, thirty acres, with houses, barns, etc., in the Dividend 
on the north side of "Sherbourn" road, for £30; Lydia was 
the name of Mrs. Cummins. The Orgill family had twenty 
acres where Mrs. Henry F. Durant's house now stands, and 
in 1742 Richard Orgill bought of Jonathan Smith forty-five 
acres abutting on the road to Gay's Farm (the School Farm) 
northwest, and also bounding on land lately purchased by 
Robert Cook of Deacon Fairbanks and of the Whitings of 
Dedham, land of Hezekiah Broad south, land of Orgill's 
southeast. 



54 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

PAINE 

John Paine was an early Inhabitant of Dedham, and was 
a fence viewer in 1702, '06-08, and surveyor of highways in 
1704. In 1727 John Paine sold to William Bodingham eleven 
acres in the east part of Needham, for £20, and the same 
year he sold him other land for £30. This land was in the 
Upper Falls region and west of Central Avenue. The in- 
ventory of John Paine, 1756, amounted to £370, i6s., 3d., 
and included land and buildings, "Books & Armor" £1, 
i6s., 3d., "Pewter Dishes & Brass Kettles" £3, 7s., gd. 
Ruth Paine and John Wilson settled the estate. John Payn 
died November 29, 1753, and another John Payn May 14, 
1756. Within the memory of aged people there was an 
ancient Paine homestead where the Glancy family now live 
on Great Plain Avenue, near the Causeway. The Blackinton 
family once occupied the house, which in 1842 was a ruin, 
but was the home of George Kingsbury. Othniel Blackinton 
of Dedham married Anna Payn of Needham February 19, 
1794. Ephraim Pain married May 24, 1770, Anne Mills, 
daughter of David Mills, and lived in the house on South 
Street lately owned by Samuel Forsyth. This house is one 
of the oldest in Needham, and on the earlier maps the hill 
is called "Paine's Hill". Ephraim's inventory, dated March 
22, 1803, accounts for seventy-one acres of land, with build- 
ings, of which land about fifteen acres were on the south side 
of South Street. Anna Paine, the widow, and Isaac Shep- 
herd settled the estate. 

PARKER 

John Parker was a surveyor of highways in Dedham In 
1704, and was a witness to deeds that year. 

The Parker family were for generations owners of land 
In "The Hundreds ", and in the Natick Dividend, and Horace 
Mann stated that he had evidence that carried their title 
back to 1699. The farm where the old Methodist Meeting- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 55 

house serves as a dwelling is certainly an ancient Parker 
homestead. Jonathan Parker's inventory, dated 1720, refers 
to the homestead, land on both sides of the "way", and 
mentions his gun, sword and "Banderleros". Deliverance 
Parker settled his estate, which amounted to £298, os., 4d. 
John Parker's inventory, also dated 1720, amounted to 
£427, 2s., id., and his widow, Hannah, was his administra- 
trix. Capt. Robert Cook was one of the appraisers of the 
estate, and the guardian of a minor son, Thomas Parker. 
The real estate was valued at £380, and firearms at £1. 
In 1724 John Smith, Jonathan Smith and John Woodcock 
reported that the estate of John Parker could not be divided, 
and after an appraisal by Joseph Hawes, Lieut, Thomas 
A-letcalf and Andrew Dewing, William Parker, the second 
of the sons, took the land and agreed to pay £62, los. each to 
the other heirs, or their guardians, namely, — Hannah Ware, 
Mary Smith, Joseph Parker, Sarah Parker and Thomas 
Parker. The eldest son, John, had already had his portion. 
In 1742 the estate of John Parker, Ebenezer Parker ad- 
ministrator, was appraised at £1693, ol<^ tenor, as follows: 
land £1020, buildings £280, personal £393, 4s., 6d. In 
1745 Henry Hooker of Sturbridge and Mary, his wife, sold 
to John Parker of Needham, "Husbandman", for £15, all 
their interest in the estate of "our father" John Parker, 
deceased. 

In 1688 Samuel Parker of New Cambridge bought of 
Timothy Dwight of Dedham twenty acres on the south side 
of the Charles River near "the Falls". In 1726/7 Jabez 
Parker conveyed to his brother Samuel, both of Needham, 
all the real estate left to the said Jabez by the will of his 
father, Samuel. In 1735/6 Josiah Smith of Dedham and 
Mary, his wife, sold to Samuel Parker of Needham, " Cooper ", 
twenty-five acres in the north part of Needham, near the 
Charles River, for £200 in passable bills of credit. Appar- 
ently, this land was between the Upper and the Lower 
Falls. The acknowledgment was before John Fisher, whose 



56 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

name appears, as that of the Justice of the Peace, in many 
deeds. The previous November Parker had paid William 
Mills £200 for ten acres near the Upper Falls, and to the 
west of the present Central Avenue. This parcel joined 
Parker's own land, and the deed contained these words, 
"I don't sell the highway lying by W™ Alden's Field". 
Mr. Parker bought other land of Mills. In 1744 he mort- 
gaged to John Trail of Boston his home place of sixty-five 
acres, which was west of the land bought of Smith, and 
bounded on the northeast by the Charles River, and also 
mortgaged twenty-five acres which he purchased of William 
Mills. The consideration was two hundred and sixty-two 
ounces ten penny weight, troy weight of coined silver ster- 
ling alloy. In 1745 Parker mortgaged to Benjamin Bird his 
homestead on the Charles River, one hundred and six acres, 
beside thirty acres of plowland and woodland on the road 
from the Lower Falls to Dedham, for fifteen hundred ounces 
of coined silver. In 1743 Jonathan Willard of Newton, 
"Blacksmith," sold to Samuel Parker of Needham ten 
acres bounded north and west on Parker's land, for £300. 
Lydia Willard was a witness. This transaction illustrates 
the depreciation of the currency at this period. 

In 1728 Benjamin Parker was appointed administrator 
of the estate of Isaac Parker, appraised at £100, i6s. 



PRATT 

The Pratts of Newton, Needham and Weston are descend- 
ants of Phinehas Pratt, one of the pioneers of Massachusetts. 

In 1713 Edward Bromfield of Boston sold to Daniel 
Pratt of Needham, for £50, two hundred acres of woodland 
bounded northerly on "Westown", and southerly on Sher- 
born road and land of John Huntting; part of this land was 
sold by Mr. Pratt to Stephen Huntting in 1737. In the 
inventory of Daniel Pratt, 1750, is this item, — "Books & 
Armour 17., i ", total £324, 14s., lod., of which the real 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 57 

estate represented over £254. Daniel died February 17, 
1749/50, and his widow, Deborah, died in the night of 
January 11/12, 1758. 

The Pratt Farm, at the Lower Falls, was owned by Charles 
Rice prior to 1828, and then included about one hundred 
and twenty acres. Capt. Samuel Pratt either gave the name 
to Pratt's Bridge, often called Capt. Pratt's Bridge, or at 
least strengthened the use of that name. 



RICE 

John Rice was a fence viewer in Dedham 1694, '97-1700, 
'02, '06, surveyor of highways In 1700, '01, '09, '10, and field 
driver in 1704. In 1701 he and his wife, Elizabeth, conveyed 
to Josiah Kingsbery an acre of meadow, adjacent to Strife 
Meadow Brook, for forty shillings, and on the same page of 
the Suifolk Deeds, Lib. 24, fol. 248, are recorded the deposi- 
tions of John Woodcock and Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., in 
reference to this meadow. John Rice made his will on Jan- 
uary 30, 1739/40, and gave his wife his household effects, 
his daughter Elizabeth £40, old tenor, "my Warming pan 
and pewter platter", and a life right in his house, to his 
daughter Mary Hartwell he gave £20, to daughter Sarah 
Gill £30, to granddaughter "Jamima" Tolman £40, to 
grandson Nathaniel Tolman his land and buildings in Need- 
ham, and rights to land in Dedham, and also his tools. 
This grandson was to pay the legacies. Ebenezer Skinner 
and Nathaniel Tolman were the executors. In 1742 Judith 
Rice, "Spinster", sold for £17 to David Mills four acres of 
upland in the Broad Meadow, which land she owned in com- 
mon with the heirs of Nathaniel Tolman and those "of my 
late husband John Rice". The deed was acknowledged 
before Jeremiah Fisher of Needham, a well-known Justice 
of the Peace. In 1744 Robert Jennison had "finished" a 
house for John Rice. "The Aged Widow Judith Rice^' died 
September 27, 1750. 



58 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



RICHARDSON 

In 1741 Ezekiel Richardson of Needham bought of Heze- 
kiah Fuller of Dedham, for £110, sixteen acres on the westerly 
end of the Great Plain, and four acres in the westerly part 
of the Broad Meadows, near the house of Joseph Mills. 

SMITH 

In 1701 John Smith, apparently a son of Christopher 
Smith of Dedham, was living in what was afterward Need- 
ham, presumably on the easterly side of the present High 
Rock Street, between Chestnut and South Streets. It is pos- 
sible, however, that his homestead was on South Street. 
He was constable in Dedham in 1694, fence viewer in 1695, 
'97-1701, '05, field driver in 1696, tythingman in 1697-1700, 
surveyor of highways in 1699, 1702, and selectman in 1707, 
'08. On May 2, 1709, he was appointed by the selectmen on 
a committee of three to build a new bridge over the Charles, 
and on April 9, 171 1, was designated one of the two men who 
were to perambulate the line between Dedham and Water- 
town; Weston did not then exist. Prior to 171 1 he had per- 
ambulated the town lines at different times. John was the 
ancestor of many of the Smiths who have lived in Needham, 
and the copy of his will contains seventeen hundred and 
twelve words, according to Horace Mann. Smith owned 
a great deal of land, and had in his lifetime given farms to 
his sons John, Christopher and Samuel. In 1717 he had 
conveyed to his son Moses eight acres at the Chestnut Trees 
on the highway leading from Needham Meeting-house to 
the County road, now Forest Street. 

In his will he devised land bought of Jonathan Parker 
to son Jonathan, to son Moses other land, including one 
acre of Broad Meadow at Wilson's Island, to sons Joshua, 
Caleb and Aaron he gave tracts of land, and the latter's por- 
tion included two acres at "Wolf Pitt Hill". To his son 
Samuel he also devised real estate, and he bequeathed to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 59 

his daughter, Abigail Brewer, £45, and to his grandson 
Ezra Smith, when he came of a^ge, he gave a piece of land 
near the house of John, Jr., and joining the church land, 
provided he had remained with his grandmother till he was 
fifteen. He also gave Ezra a young mare "when found". 
Joshua and Caleb were directed to cut wood for their mother, 
Abigail, and Caleb and Aaron were to maintain "at my 
Dwelling House", two cows, one horse, and three sheep for 
her use, and to cut up the wood, ready for the fire, which 
Joshua and Caleb were to furnish. Aaron and his mother 
were requested "when they Kill their Winter's meat" to 
give Samuel one quarter part of it, and to let him choose 
"of the Swine". Aaron was to have half of the house and 
out-buildings, and at his mother's decease the whole. The 
widow had her dower, and conditional devises were made 
of land near Stephen Hunting's house and "Cold Spring" 
to John and Jonathan, and upland on the west side of 
Strife Meadow to Christopher. Aaron and Samuel were the 
residuary legatees, and the former for many years lived on 
South Street, opposite the east end of High Rock Street, 
and owned more than one hundred acres, most of it in 
that locality. John Smith, Jr., his son, was a field 
driver in Dedham in 1708, and a surveyor of highways in 
1710. 

The inventory of Christopher Smith, 1724, amounted to 
£227, IIS., 6d., and his widow, Rebecca, was the adminis- 
tratrix. She died September 17, 1761, in her eighty-first 
year. A deed of Caleb Smith, dated 1727, of three acres, 
refers to "High Rock" and the road to it. In 1729 Caleb and 
Rachel Smith sold Timothy Kingsbery two and one half acres 
of swamp near the house of Josiah Newell, and Caleb sold 
to Mr. Newell five acres, near the latter's house, and bounded 
east "upon a drawn path leading to the Meeting house", 
for £46. In 1726 Caleb Smith had sold to his brother 
Aaron one and one half acres in the corner where South and 
High Rock Streets meet. In 1730 Elizabeth, widow of 



6o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Joshua Smith, conveyed to her son, Edward Smith, "Black- 
smith", four acres of upland and swamp, south of the home- 
stead, also meadow and woodland, including two acres in 
the Broad Meadow. Edward Smith made his will February 
4> 1743 > giving his intended wife, Elizabeth Cheney, a 
mourning suit throughout, to be delivered to her immedi- 
ately after his decease, also a cow and £30; he was then 
"Sick". He distributed £370, old tenor, to his mother, 
Elizabeth Mather, sister Hawes and her children, brother 
Ithamar Smith, sister Elizabeth and her children, sister 
Abigail Smith and brother Joshua Smith; to the latter he 
devised land and "Housings", and named him as executor 
and residuary legatee. The will of Jonathan Smith, dated 
January 31, 1749/50, gave to his wife, Martha, the house- 
hold goods, valued at £200, old tenor, the west end of the 
house, and an honorable maintenance by his executors. 
No bargain made by her was to stand for more than one 
year. Son Jonathan had had land given him by deed of even 
date to the value of £700, but was to have £500 additional, 
and also £200 for labor done "for me" after he was of age. 
Son Timothy had already had £500. Son Aaron was de- 
vised "all my Land lying on the East Side of the Road Lead- 
ing from Jonathan Dewings to the Widow Rebecca Smith's", 
valued at £1000. Presumably this was the Smith homestead 
next to Waban (Bullard's) Brook, where Capt. Aaron Smith, 
the devisee, lived at the time of the Revolutionary War, 
and which his great-grandson, George Smith, who died in 
1884, gave by will to Wellesley College; although greatly 
changed the old house is still standing, and is used by the 
College as a hospital. Son David had the residue of the 
land, with buildings, the whole valued at £1000, and shared 
the personal property with his brother Aaron, before men- 
tioned; David and Aaron were the executors and were to 
pay their father's debts, but were not to sell the homestead 
while their mother lived, and were required "to carry her 
to meeting as often as she desires to go and to her Brothers 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 6l 

and Sisters once in two years if she has a mind to go & is 
able". The executors were also to give her proper burial. 
Daughters Martha Dewing and Abigail Smith were each be- 
queathed £200, only half to be paid while their mother 
lived. Probably the testator was the Jonathan Smith who 
lived where the Wellesley Town Hall and Library now 
stands, and who died April 22, 1752. 

In 1761 Abiel Smith was one of the blacksmiths of the town. 
In 1842 one of the ancient houses was the Luther Smith 
house, then in poor condition, which stood just east of the 
residence of the late Dr. James H. Grant, and near the rail- 
road track; in 1842 Mr. Fulton was living there. 

The Church records inform us whence James Smith and 
his wife came: "Jan: 9. 1726. James Smith iff Mary his 
Wife admitted into the Church. They came from Ireland 
A.D. 1718 & Brought a Teftimonial with them iromM-l John 
Stirling Minifter of the Congregation of Belly kelly in the 
County of Londonderry". In 1727 James Smith bought of 
John Fisher, Jr., and Elizabeth, his wife, fifteen acres on the 
"Great Playne" for £23, los., which land had been granted 
to Elder John Huntting in 1643. The Smiths lived on this 
estate for many years, and it is now the home of the family 
of Dea. George Gay Stevens. The large elms in front of the 
modern house are said to have been planted by Capt. 
Robert Smith, an officer in the Revolution, whose home was 
on this place. James Smith died May 18, 1754 (his grave- 
stone says May 16), and his son Capt, Robert died October 
18, 1800, and was also buried in the old graveyard. 

TOLMAN 

Nathaniel Tolman died in Needham February 7, 1729, in 
his thirty-eighth year, according to his earlier gravestone, 
which disappeared subsequent to 1861, and has been replaced 
at the expense of Mrs. Anna M. Tolman Pickford. In 1737 
Eleazer Kingsbery was guardian of Jemima and Ebenezer 
Tolman, and Jonathan Smith of Mary Tolman. In 1743 



62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Thomas Tolman, son of Nathaniel deceased, was fifteen years 
old, and chose Timothy Kingsbery as his guardian. 

UNDERWOOD 

John Underwood of Needham bought in 1714 of Hopestill 
Bent of Sudbury, who had been taxed in Needham in 171 2, 
one hundred and fifty acres "Having for the South westerly 
Corner mark a heap of stones and a stake standing in the 
North line of the Township of Natick and from thence 
running Northerly to a Red oak tree mark'd standing on 
the Westerly side of the Cartway which leads from the house 
that was Cornett William Brown's to Natick". "Easterly 
by the land of said Coller and Rice to a brook and So run- 
ning by s? brook to a stake standing on the Southerly said 
in a meadow, which is the North Easterly corner mark 
And from thence running off and running Southerly crofs a 
brook which runs into another brook which is commonly 
called Strawbery Meadow brook", "and thence Southerly 
to Natick Township Line, and thence running off and running 
westerly by s^ Natick North Line to the heap of stones and 
stake first above mentioned". The lengthy deed from which 
the foregoing is quoted was signed on January 21, 1714/15, 
and acknowledged on April 16, 171 5, before Hopestill 
Browne, Justice of the Peace. Mr. Bent's deed mentions 
"Elizabeth his Well beloved Wife"; "said Coller and Rice" 
refer to John Coller and Ephraim Rice. Mr. Horace Mann 
incorrectly stated that John Underwood was a son-in-law 
of Mr. Bent, and Mr. Clarke quoted him in his volume of 
Wellesley Epitaphs. This farm is west of the Waban Con- 
servatories, and the house is the first on Walnut Street, 
north from Bacon Street. In walking from the noted Sta- 
tion Tree, where Needham, Weston and Natick joined, 
along the westerly line of The Leg, this estate is about half- 
way. Horace Mann wrote that John Underwood built the 
house in 1716, and stated in 1895 that it was one of three 
houses built by Mr. Underwood and his sons, and that all 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 63 

these houses were then in existence. The house of 1716 was 
apparently the "Jonathan Bacon House", as it is now called, 
which is owned by the heirs of John Bacon, 3d. 

WADKINS — WATKINS 

On March 9, 1710/11, Edward Cook deeded to Andrew 
Watkins, ' Husbandman", son of his wife, Elizabeth Cook, 
by an earlier marriage, all of his land in Needham, including 
his home. The land consisted of ten acres at Maugus Hill, 
and six acres in the Natick Dividend, "my Common Right" 
as a Proprietor of Dedham. See grant to Edward Cook in 
1696. In 1720 Andrew Watkins, ' Yeoman", and Mary, his 
wife, sold the ten acres, and also four acres "near to the 
Damm in Rosemary Meadow", for £140, to Josiah Kings- 
bery and Hezekiah Broad, reserving the life rights of "Our 
Loving Mother Elizabeth Cooke the Relict Widow of Ed- 
ward Cook ". Mr. Watkins removed from Needham. 

WARD 

Edward Ward, son of John, and grandson of William 
Ward of Sudbury, gave a tankard to the Natick Church on 
August 23, 1730, and joined the Church on February 6, 
1742/3. He had come from Newton to Needham, and had a 
mill on Natick Brook; Ward's Mill and Ward's Brook were 
soon familiar names. The present Oak Street was then the 
road, or pathway, travelled by persons who came to Ward's 
Mill from Sudbury, and from the farms in that direction. 
The Coller and Dunn families are said to have lived on Oak 
Street prior to the Revolution. Ward's Lane ran west not 
far from the junction of Central and Pond Streets. On 
March 21, 1733, Thomas Frostof Needham, "Husbandman", 
sold to Edward Ward of Newton two acres in Needham "on 
the North Side of a troden Path leading from Framingham to 
Boston and on the Westwardly Side of a Certain Brook run- 
ning out of one Pond into another Pond" for £60 "Currant 



64 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Money". In 1738 Zachariah Mills, of Needham, "Black- 
smith", sold to Edward Ward, "Miller", also of Needham, 
sixteen acres and one hundred and thirty-one rods of land 
in Needham "Beginning at the Brook on which said Wards 
Mills Stand" for £90. The "Mill Pond" is referred to in this 
deed. Edward Ward died in January, 1749, aged seventy- 
eight years (Ward Genealogy). Samuel Ward, son of Ed- 
ward, married Miriam, daughter of Samuel Morse, and died 
December 13, 1754, aged thirty-four years. 

At the time of the Revolution Benjamin Ward lived in 
The Leg, and in 1788, probably earlier, owned a farm of 
one hundred and seventy-five acres, with buildings. There 
was a Ward farm, or farms, near North Main Street, in the 
extreme western part of Needham Leg. 

In 1789 Benjamin Ward of Needham was killed by a yoke 
of unruly oxen, but it does not appear whether it was Ben- 
jamin in his forty-fifth year, or his son, or namesake, in his 
fourteenth year, as both died in 1789. 

WARE 

Robert Ware of Dedham, father of Ephraim and Ebenezer, 
both of whom lived to be very old, had a land grant in Rose- 
mary Meadow in 1654, and another beyond the Great Plain 
in 1662/3. Iri his will, dated 1698/9, Robert devised land at 
Maugus Hill and at Chestnut Hill. In 1730 Samuel Ware of 
Dedham, "Weaver ", sold for £20 to Ephraim Ware of Need- 
ham five acres at Maugus Hill, and in the inventory of the 
former, made in 1736, five or six acres at "Magers Hill" 
were included. In the division of Ephraim Ware's estate, 
July 22, 1757, son Ephraim had the homestead and eight 
acres, with the exception of two acres assigned to Robert. 
Ephraim was to have all three of his father's "Common 
Rights", one half acre in Rosemary Meadow, all the personal 
property, except that given to Deborah Ware, and he was to 
pay all the debts of his father, as well as to give Hannah 
Metcalf, "his Sister of Wrentham", £2, 13s., 4d., and to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 65 

contribute one half of the necessary support for his sister 
Margaret Frost for eight years. Robert, besides the two 
acres of homestead, was given half an acre In Rosemary 
Meadow, and was charged with one half of the support of 
his sister Margaret, who was to live at the house of one or the 
other of her brothers. Deborah had three acres on the south- 
erly side of "Pine Plain", and was excused from attending 
the court on account of "Great Age", together with Eleazer 
Metcalf and wife, and Margaret Frost. The estate was small. 
Ephraim Ware died March 26, 1753, in his ninety-fourth 
year "as tis tho't", and Mehetabel, widow of the "Aged 
Ebenezer Ware", died suddenly November 2, following. 

The ancient Ware homestead by Longfellow's Pond Is 
elsewhere referred to, but mention should be made of the 
house of Joseph, and later of Daniel Ware, Esq., which 
stood on the west side of Cartwright Street, and was said 
to be one hundred and forty-five years old in 1858; it was 
taken down on July 13, 1885, and the house of the younger 
Daniel Ware, on Brook Street, which was built as early as 
1800, was removed about 1900. 

The Honorable Enos H. Tucker spoke highly of the 
widow of Daniel Ware, Esq. He said that the Reuel Ware 
house on Brook Street, near the junction with Benvenue 
Street, was built by Capt. Reuel Ware, or by his father; 
the latter's widow lived there. Lieut. Ephraim Ware, who 
was a benefactor of the First Church, lived in what we know 
as the Longfellow house on the Turnpike. The Tucker 
family then lived In the ancient Ware house, now Mr. 
Sheridan's. Enos H. Tucker, the elder, at one time lived 
In the house known as the "Johnson Place", and which had 
once been the home of Capt. Reuben Ware. The house was 
on Charles River Street, nearly opposite to the driveway of 
Charles H. W. Foster, and was burned on May 31, 1886. 

The late Emma Forbes Ware of Milton published a Ware 
genealogy In 1887, and after her decease a greatly enlarged 
work was printed in 1901 from her manuscript. 



66 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

WOODCOCK 

Jeremiah and John Woodcock of Needham were sons of 
John Woodcock of Dedham, and grandsons of John Wood- 
cock of Attleborough. Jeremiah was a field driver in Ded- 
ham in 1702, '03, '05, '06, fence viewer in 1705, '08, surveyor 
of highways in 1709, and constable in 1710. In 1695 John 
Gill sold for £15 to John Woodcock fourteen acres of up- 
land on the Great Plain, for £15, and in 1716 John Wood- 
cock and wife, Sarah, deeded to their son Samuel land in 
Broad and Rosemary Meadows. The John named in these 
deeds was the father of Jeremiah and John of Needham. 
Timothy Dwight was the justice before whom John Wood- 
cock and many other grantors acknowledged their deeds. 
In 1699/1700 Ebenezer Ware sold to Jeremiah Woodcock 
five acres joining the land of John and Sarah Woodcock, and 
near the Great Plain, and one acre of the common or un- 
divided land. In 1707 Edward Day and wife, Rebecca, 
Jonathan Wight and wife, Elizabeth, all of Wrentham, and 
Josiah Newell and wife, Hannah, sold to Jeremiah Wood- 
cock twenty acres near the Great Plain, part mowing and 
part arable, for £40, and in 1726 Jeremiah Woodcock sold 
to Timothy Kingsbery three acres of swamp at the "Great 
Slows" on the Great Plain road leading to Capt. John 
Fisher's, and one and one fourth acres in Broad Meadow, all 
for £5. In 1734 Jeremiah Woodcock bought five acres on 
the "Plain Road" from James Kingsbery, and in 1739 Mr. 
Woodcock deeded to his son Michael, who was born Decem- 
ber I, 171 1, one undivided half of his home place, which 
contained one hundred acres, with one half of the buildings, 
situated on the road from Dedham to Needham; and also 
one half of twenty acres on the Great Plain, and one half of 
five acres in Broad Meadows. Michael was to pay £100. 
Barnabas Woodcock and Francis Very were witnesses to 
this deed, which was acknowledged before John Fisher, 
Justice of the Peace. Most of the old deeds were witnessed 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM (>J 

by two or more persons, usually relatives or neighbors, and 
the names of some of the justices of the peace, as that of 
John Fisher, Josiah Newell, and others, are familiar to all 
searchers of titles in the counties where they dwelt. In 
1742 Jeremiah and Michael Woodcock conveyed to Capt. 
John Holbrook of Roxbury eight acres of plowland for £130. 
In 1733 Jeremiah had apparently borrowed £200 on a "Land 
Bank" mortgage, and in 1742 gave up eighty acres and also 
twenty-five acres, the latter on the Great Plain, to offset 
this indebtedness. There are two deeds of 1745 in which he 
appears as grantor, and that year he and Hannah, his wife, 
son Michael and his wife, who was also named Hannah, 
mortgaged to Benjamin Bird, Esq., of Roxbury, one hundred 
and forty acres, the description of which is lengthy, for 
£1506, old tenor. Mr. Bird, who was a justice of the peace, 
was in the habit of lending money, and held other mortgages 
on the lands of Deacon Woodcock, and of his sons. Dea. 
Jeremiah Woodcock died September 27, 1752, N. S. In 
1745 Nathaniel Woodcock, born in Dedham, September 14, 
1707, son of Jeremiah, conveyed his homestead and fourteen 
and one half acres, for £198, 12s., old tenor, to Mr. Bird. 
There were stone walls in Needham early in its history, as 
these old deeds refer to them. At one time Dea. Jeremiah 
Woodcock was a large owner of land, distributed over the 
eastern portion of the town, but in his latter years he sold 
much of it. He had owned several houses, and the site of 
his homestead is unknown to the writer, as it was to the late 
Charles C. Greenwood. 



petition for tfje incorporation of tl)e 
tKoton of i^eebiiam 



FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE STATE ARCHIVES 



Petetion for the Incorporation of Needham. 

TO His Ex22: Jofeph Dudley Efq" Cap* Gen«!'' & Gov- 
ernour in Cheif% In, And Ou", Her Maj*''=^ Province of y« 
Mafsachusetts Bay in New England &c And To the Hon®''- 
able the Councel, & Houfe of Rep" Sentatives In Gen^Jili 
Court Afsembly 
The Humble 

Petetion of Sundry the Inhabitants of the Town of Ded- 
ham, in y^ County of Suffolk in N.E. whofe Names Are 
under written 

Humbly Sheweth 

That Wheras there is A Certaine Tract or Parcell of 
Lands of About five Miles Square Situate Lying And being 
within the Limmitts & bounds of y Sd Town of Dedham 
On y^ Northerly Side of Charles River & is Bounded Round 
with Charles River, Watertown Line & Natick Line; Upon 
y® which Tract bounded as Aboue Said there is Already 
fettled upwards of forty & five — famylies, Many of which 
by reafon of their Remote Living from y^ place of y^ publique 
Worfhip of God in o"'' Own Town, Some 6.7.8.&io.Miles. 
Which Renders it Utterly Impofsible for us with o"' familyes, 
Duly to Attend On y® publique worfhip of God there, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 69 

And 7°"'' poor petetion®''s being Humbly App'"^henfive That 
Chrift Gofpell Ordinances, with His Gratious p'^'sence in 
y« Mid ft of them 

is y^ Cheife glory of o"'' Land; And that it is o"' Indif- 
pencable Duty to Seek After y^ Injoym. of it. And That 
the Lord of y® Universs who Hath Made Man for his Own 
Service, Takes no pleafure In Seeing Such a Numb*'' of 
families as we are alredy Arived to, Content o"''Selves Like 
the Brute Creaturs to grafe upon y^ Earth Only; And To 
Starve o"' own Sols, & y® Souls of o"'' poor Children that he 
hath given us y^ Charg off — 

We have heretofore, & Latly, Made O"'' Hum|il£ Adrefses To 
o"' Town of Dedham to whom we have a Memb<='"ly relation, 
for Redrefs of our Greevance, Humbly praying their Leave 
& Approbation, that y® p"Sent Inhabitants Living within 
y^ bounds Aboue Mentioned; togather with Such as Shall 
from Time to Time Inhabit Among them; Excepting Only 
the Inhabitants Living on y^ Great Island, Should be free'd 
from Minifterial Charg in o"''Town, To y^ Intent y°"'' poore 
petetion^" Might be A free people of them Selves, for y^ 
Setting up y^ publique Worfhip Among them, as in & by y^ 
petetion we p'^fented to them. May More fully Appear. 
Yet Not with Standing are as Likly as Ever, to remaine 
Deftitute both of Schooling & preaching, unlefs Helped & 
releived by this Hon^''^ Court, And y°"' hon''". Will Judge 
what May be Expected of A people That Cannot Injoy, 
Either the Means of Education Mann®", Nor Grace, 
Your Poor Petetion*'" Therefore Humbly pray this Hon^r^ 
Court to pety us, & So To Compafionate o"'' Affaiers As to 
Give us Such releife in this Matt®'' as in y°"'' wifdom you 
Shall See Meet, And if it May pleafe this Hon^^ Court, To 
Grant That all y® Prefent Inhabitants Living within y® 
Bounds Aboue Mentioned, That is to Say Between Charles 
River, Watertown Bounds. & Natick Bounds To Gather 
with Such as Shall from Time to Time Inhabit Among them 
Excepting Only y® Inhabitants Living on y® Great Island 



70 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Comonly So Called & Recorded in Sd Dedham Town Book, 
be Allowed The Bounds Aboue Mentioned; To be A Diftinct 
Town Shipp 

To 
To y^ Intent we May be Allowed & Enabled To Settle & 
Support y^ Gofpell of Chrift Among o"''Selves with'"" Sd 
Bounds, & in Due Time as god Shall Enable us, A Shool 
for y" Education of our Children, & be freed from all Rates 
& Taxes in Any Other part of y" Town of Dedham, & be^sg 
favoured with y® Injoym* of thofe Immunities & priviledges 
that we May Do Duty, & Receive previledge Among our- 
Selves. 

We Humbly Offer to y« Confideration of this Hon«T<* 
Court Some Reafons, why we Defire to be A Town-Shipp 
Rather Then A Precinct Viz 

1 Firft becaufe y® Tract of Land within y® bounds Pete- 
tioned for is as we App^^hend Capible of Accomidating A 
fufficiant Numb^"" of Inhabitants with thofe Alredy Set- 
tled to Make A Decent Townfhip, & therfor a School fore 
y^ Education of youth will Soon be Necefary. 

2 The Diftance of o""" Livings, from & y^ Difficulty of y* 
way to Our Chh & School in Dedham is Such that at Some 
Seafons of y^ yeare by reafon of y" Wat^'' being high we Can 
Neither Attend Chh Meetings, Town Meetings Nor School 
meetings, & So Loofe all o"^' priviledges at once. 

3 Becaufe we Defire peace & Quiet Nefs in y° Injoym* of 
y^ favours petetioned for, Without w- we canNot be hapy. 
— for it hafs been Observed of Some, that in y" firft plant- 
ing of Chhes there Often Arifes Storms In Oppofition from 
their Own« Towne as Some Times Drives y" Moving, & 
ufualy y weaker party under y^ wing of y^ Slvlle Gov^^'m*^ 
for help & Shelter & when freed as aprecin"* Only, have 
Afterward Mett with Such hard Meafures from their Town 
as have been hard to Bare 

We Defire to blefs y^ Lord that has placed us under y« 
Care & Conduct of A GoV^'nm*. So Rellgiou^y DIfpofed as 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



71 



to Take Care that y® Gofpell be preached to all as fare as 
May be So that Even y" poor Indians are in that way pro- 
vided for & Not Neglec we are hence Incour'^ged to Hope 
& pray that we may So Share In y" Compafslons, & Favour 
of this Hon'T^ Court, That we may have Caufe to rejoyce, 
in y® Injoym*^ of y® favours Defired, & petetioned for. And 
y^ poor Petetion*=" as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray 



Benjemin mills Sener 
Andrew Dewing fenr 
John Fisher 
Ephrem Ware 
Richard more 
Robart Cook 
Jeremiah Woodcok 
Henry Alldin 
thomas madcalf 
Benlemin Mills Junr 
Eleazar Kingsbery 
Ebenezer Ware 
James KIngsbry 
Joslah Kingsbery 
Joseph Hawes 
Jonathon Duin 
John Smith Jun 
Thomas flfuller 
Robert ffuUer 
Chrlftopher Smith 
John gill 

John Parker Juner 
John Mackintier 
ifaac parker 
hezekiah broad 
Mathias ockinton 
Andrew Dewing Junr 
William Mills 
Zechariah Mills 



Jonathan parker 
Timothy kingsbery 
Samuel bacon 
Andrew wadklns 
Jofhuaway Smith 
Samuel parker 
John Fisher Juner 
John woodcok 
Edwart cook 
Stephen Huntting 
John parker 



72 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

This page is numbered 622 in the Archives, and is followed 
by an order that notice be served on the selectmen of Ded- 
ham, calling on them to answer the foregoing petition the 
"Second Tuesday of their next Sefsion". This order was 
"Sent down for Concurrance" from the Council "27^^ 
June. 1710: If^ Addington S." 

"June 28: 1710. Read & Concurr'd 

John Clark Speaker" 

On the back of this paper is written: 

"Oct- ° 171 1. "Dedham Farm"« Petetlon 

Dedham Farmers To 

Petetion./" be a Township 

May 1710" 

Then follows the Act of Incorporation of the Town of 
Needham, which passed the Council November 5, as certi- 
fied by Isaac Addlngton, the Secretary, and was sent to 
the House, where "Nov'': 6: 171 1. Read, & Concurr'd. 
John Burrlll Speaker" 

The Original Bill is in the records of the General Court, and 
is signed by the Governor thus: "Consented to . J. Dudley" 
(Vol. 9, p. 162). The bill In the Archives differs from that 
in the General Court records In the use of capital letters and 
in punctuation. It appears impossible to ascertain when 
the Governor signed this Act, and the sixth day of Novem- 
ber, Old Style, equivalent to the seventeenth day. New 
Style, must be considered the birthday of the Town of 
Needham, notwithstanding the observance of the sixteenth 
in 181 1. The chief of the Archives Department called the 
writer's attention to a mistake in the Manual of the General 
Court as to this date, and explained its origin. As there is 
nothing that commands more respect than a venerable 
error. It is probable that this one in the Manual will be 
quoted as an authority till the end of time, although 
corrected. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 73 

Page 624 of the Archives Is the petition of the selectmen 
of Dedham, viz., " Samuel guild Thomas Fuller Robart 
Cook Joseph Wight", asking that the question of dividing 
the town be deferred till the May session. Their request 
was granted by the Council and House, October 31, 1710, 
with the following advice inserted by the Council: "And 
it Is Recommended to the Town and the Petitioners to take 
care to procure an able minister to preach in this out part 
of the Town in the mean time". State Archives, Vol. 113, 
pp. 620-624. 

THE BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY BETWEEN DEDHAM AND 
NEEDHAM 

On May 28, 171 1, a committee of the town of Dedham had 
reported In favor of the incorporation of the north part of 
the town, but designated a boundary line quite different 
from that desired by the petitioners for the new town, and 
later obtained by them. The report recommended that 
"a streight Line be run and Stated from Charls rluer at a 
place called the Landing place below Enfign KindricKs 
houfe to Charls rluer towards the South weft so as to com- 
prehend and take in the houfe and houfe lot of John Smith 
Sen""". This line ran from Kendrlcks Bridge southwesterly, 
and north of Bird's Hill, crossing Great Plain Avenue near 
Augustus Eaton's, thence crossing Webster, High Rock 
and South Streets to the Charles near the residence (1908) 
of Ezra Fuller. The report also contained a proposition 
as to the Province tax. The petitioners objected to the 
narrow limits proposed by Dedham, and addressed a peti- 
tion to Governor Dudley, the Council and House, dated 
June 7, 171 1. They "Enform this Honoured Court" that 
notwithstanding the recommendation made to Dedham by 
the General Court the petitioners had had to pay the minis- 
ter themselves. "Never y" Lefs procurd y^ Revl'^i m'' Hale 
to preach with us This winter Seafon till Now & have paid 
him to satiffactlon for his service". "That y® Land petl- 



74 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

tioned for to be A Township, was purchafed by y® Town of 
Dedham of One W- Nehoiden Indian in y« year 1680 as of 
Record will apear to This Hon^ Court. And: Therefore 
we hope will not be Aledg'd as any Intrenchm* opon y« 
Towns former grant." Most of the lands "are already Laid 
out into Diftinctt proprlys" and will be more valuable 
after the incorporation. The petitioners pray "that we may 
be Either freed as A Townfhip, or have Conveniant Scool- 
ing & preaching Maintain*^ Among us at y^ Gen®" Charg 
of y® whol Town 

benjemin mills Sen 

John Fifher In y« Name & 

Robert Cook behalf of y° 

Benjemin Mills jun said Pettion"" 

Jeremiah Woodcoke 

John Smith 

There are various papers, and certified copies of 
town records introduced to prove the Nehoiden trans- 
action. On February 8, 1711/12, Needham appointed 
Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell to treat with Dedham as 
to the boundary, and on March 10 the mother town chose 
three men to appeal to the General Court to change the 
line in favor of Dedham, and the same day Needham selected 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Joseph Daniell and John Smith, Jr., 
to maintain that "the Longe Diche, a straite Line from Riuer 
to Riuer" should be the line. "Sargeant" John Fisher 
and Robert Cook were added to the committee and directed 
to answer the Dedham men before the General Court. On 
April 7 the same citizens, with the exception of Ebenezer 
Ware in place of Daniell, were chosen "to Come to a 
Loveng a Greement" with Dedham. The General Court 
ended the controversy by deciding in favor of the existing 
line. 

On February 15, 1714, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, 
Sr., and Ensign Robert Cook were named by the town to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 75 

"run" the line with Dedham; evidently an important 
perambulation. 

The following document relates in part to the boundary 
question : 

March 12, 171 1. Petition of the Town of Dedham as 
to the line. 

On June 5, 1712. 

"Ordered that a comm*^« of both Houfes be appointed to 
go upon the Place to confider of a Line of divifion between 
the faid Towns, Having great Refpect to the ancient Town 
of Dedham, to hear both Sides & to Endeavour to bring 
them to an Agreem* between felves; Otherwife to propofe 
what they judge most agreable for the Benefit of both Towns, 
& Make Report to this Court at their next Sefsion, And 
Penn Townsend & Ephraim Hunt Esq^.^ are appointed of 
the Committee for this Affair, The faid Comm^^^ alfo to 
confider & determine any difference that may be amongft 
the Inhabitants of Needham referring to the Place for 
Setting up their Meeting Houfe". State Archives, Vol. 113, 
pp. 620-629. 

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF NEEDHAM 
On the inside of the cover of the first volume of the town 

records, besides an item as to a school, is written "Needham 

Old Town Book 1707/8". 

The first page reads as follows: 

The pettitions of the Inhabatance of y® North Side of 
Charles River in y^ year 170 8/9 we made our adreses to 
the towne of Dedham for Libeity thatt we might attaing 
the gofpel amongstt our Selfes. . . March 10 in 1710 we 
made our Requistt to the town of Dedham againe for the 
Same Libeity May 15 1710 we made our adressis to the 
towne of Dedham a gaine for the fore menfhoned prive- 
liges. . . March 8 170 7/8 a petition was put to the town 
of Dedham for a lought forty ore fifty Acors of Land for 
the minestrey one the North side of Charls Rever wher 



j6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

apone the towne & proprietors Choas Sar-Eleazer Kings- 
bery John Gay & Thomas Ockinton a Commit for to make 
lands & Sitt oight Said Land and make ther Return there of 
to be Recorded the Said Comity haue Laid out one the 
north Sid of Charles River — 40 and Six Acors of Land in 
one parcill and 13 Acors in another which aCordingly is 
Recorrded in the book of Dedham ReCor^^ aS foloweth 
Dedham March the 19 1710 11 Att a meeting of the pro- 
prietours of this town Itt was this Day proposed to the pro- 
prietours to graint to the pititioners on the north part of 
this town two parCells of Land for pul*vie (?) for the miniftre 
one for a houfe Lot and another for a wood Lott the first 
parcell abbutteth north upon Rosemary meadow & east 
and upon a way Coming from s*^ medow towards the Weft 
and South and upon Rofemary meadow brook in part 
Eaftt The other parcell is one the Eaft Side of a hill abutting 
upon the way leading to Rosemary medow and Robart 
flfuUers towards the north Containing abought 20 aCers. 
The proprieators in Anfwer to the petitioners do Sitt 

aparte and R*' and graintt thatt the aboue Said Land 

pittitioned for Shall be grainted to the pititioners to them 
and their heyers for Euer for the minef — from on genera- 
tion to another for euer and nott to be Sold nor alien from 
the mineftre for euer but to Remalne for the publick ufe for 
the minestre one the north Side of Charles Riuer This is 
atrue copiy takin outt of the townes book of Dedham 
ReCords given by the Clark of Said town 

Joseph Wight — 

On the second page is recorded the Act of the General 
Court of August 22, 1712, locating the meeting-house. 

On the third page is an attempt at a copy of the first 
part of the petition for the incorporation of the town. This 
petition was printed in full, with modern spelling and with 
some slight changes, as an appendix to Mr. Palmer's Cen- 
tury Sermon of 181 1, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ^^ 

NEEDHAM IN ENGLAND 

From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, in four volumes, 
183 1, it appears that Needham Market is in the County of 
Suffolk in the Parish of Barking, Hundred of Bosmere and 
Claydon, nine miles northwest of Ipswich. Population 
1300 in 183 1, 1393 in 1880. There is also in England another 
Needham, a parish in the Hundred of Earsham, Norfolk, 
one and one fourth miles southwest from Harleston. Popu- 
lation 351 in 183 1. It is in the southern part of the County 
of Norfolk near the County of Suffolk. Dedham is in the 
northeast corner of the County of Essex, and but a short 
distance from the boundary between that County and 
Suffolk. Population 1651 in 183 1. Suffolk is south of 
Norfolk, and Essex is south of Suffolk. 



Some of the roads in Needham were laid out prior to 171 1, 
and others appear to have never been formally designated, 
but were early paths or trails. It is known that there were 
such paths through this region in the time of the Apostle 
Eliot, but he is said to have travelled on the Dover side of 
the river in his journeys from Roxbury to his Indian con- 
gregation at Natick. In the records of Dedham are original 
descriptions of roads now in Needham, and the following is 
a summary of those pages, with some paragraphs quoted 
verbatim: In 1687 a cart road was laid out on the north 
side of the Charles River to the "school ground," and also 
a leading way to its northern portion. In 1718 this 
"school ground" belonged in part to Thomas Aldridge's 
estate, and in 1765 to the heirs of his daughter. Widow 
Mary Lyon, and for them John Jones made a plan of the 
land, which extended from Green Street, as it is now called, 
to Solomon Fuller's Brook, and also included three acres 
on the easterly and southerly corners of South Street and 
Dedham Avenue. The total area belonging to the heirs of 
Mrs. Lyon was thirty-two acres, according to Mr. Jones's 
neatly drawn plan. 

In 1694 a way was laid out over Rosemary Meadow Brook, 
and in 1698-9 John Fuller, Nathaniel Gay and John Smith 
laid out a road from the town, Dedham, to the Lower 
Falls, possibly not the falls now known by that name. 

In 1 701 that part of Great Plain Avenue formerly known 
as Causeway Street was laid out as a road, and also a road 
was laid out from the Great Plain road to the residence of 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 79 

John Smith. A few years later Smith lived on High Rock 
Street, on the farm since owned by Joseph Richards, and if 
he lived there in 1701 the road then laid out was presumably 
a part of Webster and High Rock Streets. On the map of 
the town made in 1771 South Street does not extend east of 
Webster Street. In 1700 or 1701 Eleazer Kingsbery, John 
Smith and John Rice laid out a way from the "Great Plaine" 
toward Maugus Hill. On March 24, 1703, "John Smith & 
John Rice are chosen a Commity to lay out a highway from 
great Plaine to Birch plaine to the southeast corner of Joseph 
Hawes lot and strait up by his house to Striffe medow Brook 
at the Common weading place". The return was made 
February 18, 1703/4; this road was apparently a part of 
Great Plain Avenue. On March 4, 1705/6, Smith and Rice 
were appointed to satisfy Joseph Daniell, through whose 
land a road had been laid out, with a piece of the common 
land adjoining his. 

On December 25, 1706, the selectmen appointed John 
Fuller, Sr., and John Smith, Sr., "a Commity to lay out a 
highway from the house of James Kingsbery to the house 
of Robert Cook and from thence to Charles River". "John 
Smith fen & Thomas Metcalfe being Deputed to lay out a 
h way make return of their laying out faid way from the 
way leading to the houfe of Josiah Kingsbery by the houfe 
of Robert ifuller as the fence now ftandeth untill it is paft 
the land of faid Robert ffuller & from thence it is bounded 
by marked trees untill it Come to the road leading from the 
Jofeph Haws to ftrife medow Brook & from thence to the 
Medow of faid Jofiah Kingsbery"; March 8, 1707/8. The 
latter road was from Forest Street, passing by the ancient 
Fuller house, and over the hill, joining Great Plain Avenue 
some distance east of Brook Street.^ 

^ The descriptions of these old roads are not clear, and Mr. James Mackintosh 
may be correct in saying that there never was a town road from the Robert Fuller 
house to Hawes Field, or connecting with the Great Plain road. If he is right, 
then the road that ran from Wellesley Avenue to Great Plain Avenue, through 
Hawes Field, was the one referred to. 



8o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In 171 1 the selectmen of Dedham appointed Daniel 
Fisher and Andrew Dewing, Sr., "to lay out a high way 
from Sherburn Road to the farm of Jonathan Gay which 
he bought of the town of Dedham". They laid it out two 
rods wide, and it must have been a road from Washington 
Street, possibly Pond and Oak Streets. The Turnpike was 
not built till 1808. The farm of Jonathan Gay was the 
"School Farm" of three hundred acres, which the town of 
Dedham sold to Mr. Gay for £50 by deed dated January i, 
1699/1700; it may be roughly described as extending from 
Morse's Pond to the Weston line, and until the latter part 
of the last century was owned almost entire by the Stevens 
family, who still (1900) possess a considerable portion of it. 

John Pain and John Rice were a committee "to Lay 
ought away from Thomas ffuller dayre House to the great 
playn road by order of the Select men." On June 2, 1713, 
the report was made as to the laying out of the said road, 
"by Matthias Ockintons houfe this way is Laid oute upon 
the Land of Benjeman gay a rod and on half" (illegible), 
and was recorded on the first page of the Needham town 
records. The town accepted, on February 23, 1715, the 
report of Jeremiah Woodcock and Timothy Kingsbery, who 
on March 17, 1714, had made an alteration in the "Road 
Runing before the houfe of matthew Tambling". 

On June 22, 1714, the selectmen appointed John Parker, 
Sr., and John Smith, Jr., to view the premises, and to report 
as to a highway through land of Thomas Fuller, and by the 
house of Joseph Haws, in order to enable Josiah Kings- 
bery to get to his meadow. They reported the 24th, and 
began the proposed road near a bridge over Strife Meadow 
Brook, but Mr. Fuller objected, and July 3, the selectmen 
changed the proposed location, starting this time "from y 
west end of y<= Cancy leading ouer birch meeadow in at a 
paye of draw Bars unto fuller's field and so marked trees not 
uery far from y® side of burch meadow and so through a 
track of wood land to Josiah Kingsberys meadow and by y^ 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 8 1 

sid of s*^ meadow seuerl Rods (upon fuller's land) and so 
acros ouer a place of meadow to Jame Kingsbery's meadow". 
This road ran from Forest Street, near the Country Club, 
over the hill in a southwesterly direction, and joined Great 
Plain Avenue east of Brook Street, and not far from the 
junction of the avenue and another old road, which also ran 
from Forest Street. 

On November 9, 1714, Sergeants Metcalf and Fuller 
with Eleazer Kingsbery were appointed to lay out a "Roade 
from Needham meetting houfe to the new bridg by y'' houfe 
of Leu*° Cook", and on the i6th the town accepted a road 
from the road leading from Robert Fuller's to the meeting 
house "unto Rosemary medour brook and so offer y^ brook 
and offer Rosemary brook neck unto fox medow as it is 
marked and so to Henery alldings & by his houfe offer the 
brook unto Le*" Cooks Land". This is now Central Ave- 
nue, from the junction with Forest Street to the Upper 
Falls. 

At a town meeting October 11, 171 5, a petition was pre- 
sented for a road through the house-lot of Henry Alden, 
the road to be "turned nearer the houfe of William Mills fo 
as to help the Sd mills with away to his hous & not go throw 
y® hous lot & orchar*^ of Henery Allding this petition was 
Grainted". The selectmen laid it out through the land of 
William Mills, William "Eattin", Henry Alden, Joseph 
Mills and Lieut. Cook "to the houfe Lot of william mills & 
would have Layed out this Road into the Road Layed out 
to the bridg but Leu*° Cook forbad us & we Stopt". This 
was the old road through Hahaton Field to the Upper 
Falls. ^ On January 4, 1716, in answer to a petition "to 
have the way layed out upon the Land of Lent Cook to the 
new bridg", Joseph Boyding, Joseph Mills, Joseph Bar- 
bure, James Kingsbery and Ebenezer Ware were appointed 
a committee, and reported January 4, "begining where 

1 This road was discontinued by vote of the town in 1896, although twice in 1893 
a similar article was dismissed. 



82 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

you Left of". This was the completion of Central Avenue at 
the Upper Falls. January 19, 1716, Thomas Metcalf and 
Josiah Newell were named a committee to lay out a road 
"from Joseph barbars bares to the way Leading to poles 
Ifland". Their work was not satisfactory, and two of the 
selectmen later performed the duty. On May 14, 1716, the 
town voted to "have the Laft way that was Layed out by 
the Houfe of william mills to be the way from the meeting 
Houfe to the bridg by Le"* Cooks houfe". 

On October i, 1716, John Smith, Sr., John Rice and 
Timothy Kingsbery, selectmen, on petition for a road "to 
y« River by Ens Kindrecks" laid one out "begining upon 
the Land of Thomas aldridg and fo to the Land & Meadow 
of Joseph Barbur to the River where the Bridg is to be 
Raised". On February 3, 1718, the selectmen on petition 
of Josiah Kingsbery appointed Lieut. Cook and Ebenezer 
Ware "to have a hyway Layed out from his houfe to the 
Road goin to Dedham by Ebenezer Mills Houfe". They 
reported February 8, favoring a road "a long on the Lower 
Sid of Rosmary medow Damm & So a long too & offer 
Rosmare medow plain by william Eatons Houfe & So along 
one the East Corner of Lieu Cook land to the Road". On 
February 3, 1718, John Smith, John Rice and James Kings- 
bery were appointed to lay out a road "from the great 
playn Road over a Crost the Hill to the Hyway going 
from the damm to y« meeting Houfe". They reported on 
the 14th. 

On January 29, 1720, there was a petition of Samuel 
Wilson and Thomas Fuller, Jr., for a road "from Charles 
River throgh the land of faid willson and the Said fullers 
and Jonathan parkers land by the house of the tha® said 
parker till it coms to the top of the hill by the plain"; re- 
port made on January 30. Jonathan Parker and Jeremiah 
Woodcock as a committee laid out this road, which was from 
the Hanks Place, where Wilson then lived, to Central 
Avenue, viz., Charles River Street. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 83 

In March, 1719/20, in answer to a petition of Jonathan 
Smith for a highway from his house to the highway near 
Christopher Smith's house, the selectmen appointed the 
petitioner and Joseph Hawes to lay out a road and report. 
On January 23, 1720/1, there was a petition for a road 
"from y® Road going throw y^ Chefnut trees; to y" dwelling 
houfe of Chrlftph. Smith"; the report on this was made 
the 24th by Joseph Haws, Joslah KIngsbery, Christopher 
Smith and Nathaniel Bullard. Apparently Mr. Smith 
lived on the Reuel Ware place, and the road laid out in- 
cluded a small section of Great Plain Avenue and a portion 
of Brook Street. On February 13, 1 720/1, on George Robin- 
son's petition, John Smith, Sr., Eleazer KIngsbery and Heze- 
kiah Broad were appointed "tovew and Lay out Sd way 
from the land of Sd Gorge Roblnfon to y« Country Road"; 
they reported on the 14th; apparently Robinson lived 
near where Newton, Weston and Wellesley join. 

On February 21, 1 720/1, there was a report of Ephralm 
Ware, Thomas Metcalf and Robert Fuller, a committee, 
"to vew and Lay out a road from y^ Road pafmg by y^ 
houfe of Ephralm ware" "we have Laid it out untlU it 
Coms unto y" North west Corner of michells metCalfs 
medow & by the weft End of Sd metCalf medows throw 
Jofiah KIngsbery Land" "a littell pond on y« Eaft Side" 
"over a brook to Sd ffullers Houfe frame Eaft and upoi Sd 
ffullers Land in part and part in y« Land of y® Hirf of Joseph 
Danell" "& So into y« Road y* leads from y® meetting houfe 
to Robert ffuller Dewelling Houfe"; this is Brookside Road 
and a part of Wellesley Avenue. Probably Ephralm Ware 
then lived in the old house south of Longfellow's Pond. 
Within twenty-five years this ancient homestead of the 
Wares showed its age to the passer by, and Miss Emma F. 
Ware of Milton had one photograph taken of it, which pho- 
tograph cannot now be found, nor can the negative. This 
estate is owned by Mr. Sheridan, who has made extensive 
additions to the house. Formerly the main roof sloped to 



84 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

within a few feet of the ground at the rear, and there were 
porches on the east end and at the back. 

June 21, 1721, "In perSuance of an order from the Select 
Men we have Layed out y" hy way two Rods wide begining 
near the Dwelling Houfe of John Smith Sen and from thence 
by the hy Rock as the way is drawn till it meets with the 
way that Leads from Dewings throw y^ Great playn 

Samii Willfon 
Thom: ffuUer 

Commity" 
Mr. Smith lived on High Rock Street. 

On September 21, 1721, Captain Cook, John Smith, John 
Rice and Josiah Kingsbery were chosen to arrange with 
Henry Pratt and William Chub as to some land wanted by 
the Town of Weston for a highway. On October 12, 1722, 
the selectmen appointed Josiah Kingsbery, John Smith and 
Ephraim Ware, Sr., "to Vew and Mark out Rode from Rose 
mery meedow dam to the Houfe of Henry AUdens"; this 
they did on the 17th, and also laid out a road from Alden's 
to Ephraim Ware's. 

The following January, in answer to a petition of Josiah 
Newell, Samuel Smith and Aaron Smith, the selectmen 
appointed Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Deacon Woodcock and 
Lieut. Thomas Fuller to report on a way "from Jofiah 
Newells houfe to the Meeting houfe"; part of Central 
Avenue. Their report on the 24th was favorable. On 
June 6, 1726, Ensign Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell 
were chosen "to View & lay out" a highway from near Capt. 
John Fisher's to the meeting house. They reported Sep- 
tember 12, stating that Joseph Mills, who was to be notified, 
had been present. This road "begining att y^ East Corner 
of John Fishers fild and so as y^ Old Rode" was accepted by 
the selectmen March 16, 1726/7, "Exfepting throw Joseph 
Millef Lot". 

On May 20, 1728, the town voted to continue the "Road 
Leading from the house of Samuel Smith unto the Great 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 85 

plain and so through the Greate-plain unto James Kingsberys 
Dweling houfe"; the selectmen and Josiah KIngsbery were 
to "Macke the Bounds", and reported on the 22d. 

On March 27, 1729, "In anfwer to a Request of Decon 
Timothy Kingsbery It was put to the Town whether thay 
would disalow and alter the Road that goeth through His 
the sd Decon Timothy Kingsberys Land that he has Latly 
purchased of Hezekiah Fuller of Dedham and Through 
the Land of Thomas Fuller of Dedham aforefd and take up 
with and Accept of a Road from the Brook by William Ock- 
intons House as it is Now Drawn and mark* Two Rods 
Wide unto the house of Decon Timothy Kingsbery and so 
along untill it Comes unto the old orignall Great plain Road ". 
Thomas Fuller was to have his timber and wood that were on 
the said land. On March 22, 1736, John Rice, Captain Cook, 
Jonathan Smith, Josiah Kingsbery and Ensign Nathaniel 
Bullard were appointed to view a road from Ensign Thomas 
Fuller's and Joseph Hawes's; on May 17th the town made 
a slight change in the lines as run by the committee. En- 
sign Fuller lived on Great Plain Avenue in the Fuller-Mills 
house, which is probably the oldest house in Needham, as it 
was built as early as 1708. 

At the annual meeting 1737/8 the town accepted "of the 
Road or Hyway from Wefton Line Leading into the Road 
Leading to Jeremiah Gays Land or Dwelling Houfe", but 
the clerk noted that this was not to be recorded till after the 
adjourned meeting on the 28th. This road was laid out by 
Selectmen Fisher, Smith and Josiah Kingsbery, and may 
have been the westerly part of Blossom Street, which in 1771 
did not extend to the Weston line, but turned westerly at 
Parker's and ran to Stevens's house in Parker Plain. 

On page 73 of Vol. II. of the town records is a description 
of a road laid out by Selectmen Robert Fuller, Woodward 
and Amos Fuller, and accepted by the town. On April 3, 
1738/9, the town accepted a road laid out by former select- 
men in answer to a petition of "Sundry of the Inhabitance 



86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

of the Towns from Natick Line to Sherborn Road with a 
littil alteration throw the Land of Lef* Thomas Metcalf 
and the Church Land belonging to Dedham". 

On February 19, 1738/9, a petition of John Goodanow, 
John Underwood, Timothy Bacon, Edward Ward, Thomas 
Frost and Josiah Broad, all residents of "The Leg", was 
presented, and it stated the need of a road from "Natick 
Line to Sherburn high Way" as they had "no way to Mill 
or Market".^ This was an old way, and the town granted 
the petition, but a year later reconsidered, as the petitioners 
would not give some necessary land. On May 19, 1740, the 
town voted to discontinue this road, but on July 7 ap- 
pointed Ensign Robert Fuller and Peter Edes to ascertain 
the amount of damage that Hezekiah Broad and others 
would suffer if the road was laid out; July i, 1741, the 
town refused to allow Mr. Broad £2, i6s. for his going 
to Court about this road, but May 16, 1743, the selectmen 
granted to Robert Fuller £1 "for his paying it to a Lawyer 
in the Cafe of the wefterly Inhabitants petition to have a 
jury to Lay them out a Road Leading into Shearbourn Road 
fo Called in the year 1742 in april". 

On March 11, 1739/40, the town accepted "a new Drawn 
Road in Lieu & stead of the old one Between the houfes of 
Aaron Smith & Timothy Kingsberry Juni", (South Street), 
and confirmed "a Road or High way Leading from the 
houfe of John alden as it is now Drawn to y® brook Called 
ox meadow Brook at the Lower end of James Kingsberrys 
meadow in the Room and Stead of the Road Leading from 
Said Brook towards the Lower falls till it Comes to the Crofs 
Road that Leads to the meeting Houfe". The same day 
Captain Cook, Ensign Robert Fuller and James Kingsbery 
were chosen "to treat with the felect men of Newton with 
Respect to Laying out a Road or High way to the Cart Bridge 

1 On pages 80 and 81 of Vol. II. of the town records is a description of this 
road, dated February 16, 1738/9, and signed by John Fisher and Jonathan Smith, 
two of the selectmen. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 87 

over Charles River". On March 14, ij^j/^, the town ac- 
cepted the road as laid out "from D^ Jofiah Newel His 
Dwelling Houfe to the Cart Bridge ouer Charles River 
Near his houfe", but no land damages were to be paid. The 
same day a way "from the Dwelling Houfe of Cap" John 
Fifher to the Cart Bridge over the Charles Charles River 
Near faid Fifhers houfe" was also accepted. This way was 
the southern portion of Central Avenue. 

On March 30, 1750, the selectmen appointed Amos Fuller, 
Nathaniel Man and John Pain to lay out a highway "from 
M^ William Mills's to a Highway Lay'! out from Dedham 
to Poles Ifland alfo from SI Mills's to the Highway leading 
through great Plain, alfo to the Highway by John Pain's"; 
perhaps a part of Greendale Avenue, which with Broad 
Meadow Road formed the "through" public way. In 
1 77 1 there was a road running northerly from Great Plain 
Avenue to Joseph Colburn's (Blackman's), but it ended 
there. On March 9, 1752, the town accepted from Hezekiah 
Broad a gift of the land used for a road near Isaac Mills's. 
Two years later a road from William Mills, Jr's., house lot 
to the road leading by Jeremiah Eaton's house was accepted 
by the town, provided there were no land damages. John 
Alden and Josiah Eaton, "the Selectmens Committy", 
had reported October 11, 1753, as to this road. Messrs. 
Mills and Eaton lived between Webster Street and the river, 
and presumably this was the old road laid out in 171 5 and 
discontinued in 1896. The same day that this road was 
accepted, March 11, 1754, the town voted to discontinue 
"the Road Leading from the Road by mr Caleb Kingsbery's 
a Croft Cheftnut Hill to the Road Leading by mE Jofeph 
Hawes's to mi Chriftopher Smiths from Being an Open 
Road and allow it only to be a Leading Road Provided they 
have Gates to go through in Said Road". Mr. Kingsbery 
lived where the Wellesley Country Club is; Mr. Hawes on 
the hill north of Edward G. Fuller's, and Mr. Smith probably 
on Brook Street. 



88 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

On March lo, 1755, the town accepted a road "Leading 
from the Road nere Strife meadow Bridg to y^ Road Lead- 
ing from Chrlftopher Smith to David Smiths" provided It 
was as good as the old road, and cost the town nothing. 
Jonathan Deming, Jonathan Smith and Ephralm Bullard 
were appointed to view this new road, which apparently was 
the modern Brook Street. The same day the town voted 
to discontinue "y Road Leading from the Road that Leads 
through y Cheftnut Trees By Cap^ Caleb KIngsberys houfe 
to the Road that Leads from m^ Ephralm Wars to Jeremiah 
Woodcocks from being an open Road and allow It to be a 
Leading Road for three years Provided they have Gats to 
go through in Said Road". This road seems to be identical 
with that part of Wellesley Avenue between the club house 
and Brookside Road. 

On February 22, 1756, Samuel and Joseph Macklntler, 
appointed by the selectmen, of which board Samuel was a 
member, reported that they had layed out a road "from the 
Houfe of m"" Henry Dewing Jun^ to the Road Leading from 
m^ Jonathan Gay to mi: Thomas Gardners"; apparently 
Grove Street, which in 1771 ended at Benvenue Street, the 
latter road then ran southwesterly, turned to the west, and 
came out onto the Sherborn road (Washington Street) near 
Bullard's tavern. This change in an old road was accepted 
by the town at its annual meeting In 1756. On May 23, 
1758, there was a report from David Smith, Jesse KIngsbery 
and Jonathan Huntting, who had been appointed by the 
town In March "to Vew the Road Near Robert Cunningham 
which Ifaac Mills Petitions to Fence up". 

On March 12, 1759, the town voted to discontinue "the 
Road Leading from Ephralm Wars to the Meeting Houfe 
as far as Peter Edes Land lies upon Said Road for two years 
Provided Ephralm Ware Hangs two Gates Sutible", and 
also discontinued "the Road Leading by Cap*" Caleb KIngs- 
berys Houfe to the Road that Leads from Ephralm Wars to 
the Meeting Houfe from being an Open Road and allow it 



i 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 89 

only to be a Leading Road Provided he be at the Coft of 
Providing two Gates". 

On February 23, 1761, three of the selectmen laid out a 
road two rods wide "From the Houfe of m' Nathaniel 
Fifher to the Cart Bridge Leading over Charles River near 
De'' Fifhers Houfe"; evidently Central Avenue south of 
Charles River Street. In May, 1762, the town dismissed 
the article in reference to a road in the west part of the 
town near the house of Alexander Campbell. Mr. Campbell 
seems to have been the only person who wanted it. 

At the annual meeting in 1764 the ninth article was to see 
if the town would accept a road, one and one half rods wide, 
through "Cedar Swamp Plain", and Aaron Smith, Jr., Josiah 
Woodward, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Newell, Jr., and 
Lieut. Day were chosen to ascertain what the land damages 
would be. At the adjourned meeting, March 16, a road was 
accepted "Near the Houfe of Uriah CoUer Ju= As it is now 
Used and Improved on the Eaft Side of y^ Said Coller's 
Fence in the Room of a Road within Said Coller's Fence", 
and in May the road laid out the year before "From the 
Brook on the Southerly Side of Cedar Swamp Plain: And 
Runing Northerly to Natick Line " was also accepted. It was 
the road referred to in the ninth article at the annual meeting. 
Cedar Swamp is in the west part of the modern Wellesley. 
On May 22, 1766, the town accepted a road "as it is 
Laid out from Sherburn Road (So Called) To the Road that 
Leads by EnfE Lemuel Pratts houfe to Wefton": there to 
be no land damages. This road was on land of Josiah Up- 
ham, Jr., and on that of Henry Pratt, deceased, according 
to the report, under date of February 13, 1766, of a special 
committee consisting of Joseph Daniell, Caleb Kingsbery 
and Samuel Huntting. On March 14, 1768, the town ac- 
cepted "a Leading Road as it is laid out: from the Houfe 
of Josiah Ware; through Samuel Mackintier's Land: To 
the Road that Leads by Said Samuel Mackintiers Houfe: 
Upon Conditions that the Said Samuel Mackintier has 



90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Libberty to pafs and Repafs through the Land of the Said 
Joslah Ware to his Wood Land". Mr. Ware lived on Cart- 
wright Street. The report of Ephraim Jackson, Ebenezer 
Huntting and Oliver Mills, who laid out this road, is dated 
March 13, 1768, and is recorded in full. At the same meeting 
the town accepted a road "over Rofemerry Meadow Damn" 
in place of one "below Rofemerry Meadow Damn", which 
latter road was discontinued. The report of the committee, 
Ephraim Jackson, Josiah Woodward and William Mackin- 
tafh, was dated March 4, and contained these words: "And 
in Cafe the Flume wants Repairing or New Building it is 
to be Done at the Expence or Charge of the Propriators of 
the above Said Meadow". 

At the annual meeting in 1770 the town discontinued 
"the Road Leading from Sherburn Road; Towards Josiah 
Woodwards; as far as the Road is now Laid Out. Adjoining 
to the Land and fence of Samuel Daniel; and Accept of the 
Road that is now Laid out; on the Land of ml Joseph Daniel : 
in the Room and Stead of the old Road". The selectmen 
had appointed two of their number, Robert Fuller and Capt. 
Caleb Kingsbery, to lay out this new road in company with 
Lemuel Pratt, and their report is dated March 9. 

On March 15, 1771, the town accepted "a Road Leading 
from Ml Benjamin Mills'es Land as it is Marked Out: and 
Now Travilled in on the Eafterly part of John Kittley's 
Land Untill it Comes to Great Plain Road : With Out Co ft 
and Charge to the Town And it paft in the Affirmative". 
The town also accepted a road "as it is Marked Out from 
the North wefterly Corner of Ml Joseph Colburn's Land: 
On the Land of Lii Amos Fuller: Untill it Comes to the Road 
that Leads to Poles Island (So Colled) With Out Coft and 
Charge to y® Town". The reports as to these two roads 
are on page 23 of Vol. IL, and are dated March 6, 1771. 

Ebenezer Fuller 
Robert Smith \ Committee. 
William Smith 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 91 

Perhaps the present Broad Meadow Road Is the one 
referred to. 

The town also accepted a leading way "as it is Marked 
Out through the Land of Mr Josiah Ware: To a wood Lot 
Belonging to the Heirs of Mi Samuel Mackintier Deci with 
out Co ft and Charge to y^ Town:" This was on Ridge Hill 
and a continuation of a road. The report, which is dated 
March 4, 1771, is on page 23 of Vol. H. 

Aaron Smith 

Samuel Daggett \ Committee. 

Oliver Mills 

On March 16, 1772, Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. William 
Mackintafh and Samuel Daggett were a committee to see 
about a road which ran between Ensign Eliakim Cook's 
house and barn and ended at the Widow Judeth Mills's, 
but on May 28 the town refused to accept it. Early in 
1773 the town paid Timothy Newell and Michael Metcalf 
fifteen shillings each for attending the Court of Sessions in 
Boston, and Mr. Shephard and John Jones, Esq., three 
shillings each for writing for the town, including an answer 
to the petition before the court as to a road in the west part. 

On May 19, 1773, the town appointed Dea. John Fisher, 
Michael Metcalf and Lieut. Jonathan Day to treat with 
the owners of the land through which it was proposed to 
lay out a road, viz., from Natick line and Lieut. John Bacon's 
house, on what is now North Main Street in Natick, to the 
brook by Theodore Broad's mills and thence to Sherburn 
road. The committee reported at the next March meeting 
as directed.^ 

At the May meeting in 1773 the town dismissed article 
thirteen which was to see if they would open a road through 
the Chestnut Trees. At an adjourned meeting on March 

1 On pages 57 and 58 of Vol. III. of the town records is the report of the select- 
men who relocated the westerly part of Bacon Street. 

Lieutenant Bacon's house has been greatly changed, and is the tenement house 
just west of the drinking fountain. 



92 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

23, 1775, the town accepted a road from Natick line near 
the house of Moses Fisk to the road "that Leads from the 
Neck of the Ponds to Bofton", but there was to be no ex- 
pense to the town. The report of the laying out of this 
road by Selectmen Robert Fuller, Nathaniel Fisher and 
Ebenezer Fuller, is dated February 14, 1775, and is recorded. 
The road was one and one half rods wide, and ran through 
Moses Fisk's land to Isaac Underwood's and through Mr. 
Underwood's to the southeast corner of Joseph Drury's 
orchard. 

On May 29 the town accepted a road "from John Kings- 
bery's Houfe as the Road is now Traveled in, Untill it comes 
to the Road leading by John Aldens Houfe to the Uper 
falls. As it is Laid Out Two Rods wide, through the Land 
of Josiah Eaton and Jeremiah Eaton, In Exchange for part 
of an Old way that was Laid Out from Dedham to the 
Lower falls: Viz That part of Said Old way that Goes 
through Jeremiah Eatons Land; Beginning at William 
Milleses Land Near Rofemerry Pond, and from thence 
Runing to the Road Leading from Josiah Eatons to John 
Aldens". At the meeting of March 23 Josiah Newell, 
Lieut. Day and Amos Fuller had been chosen to view this 
proposed road, and to report at the May meeting, which 
they did. 

On February 24, 1778, the town accepted the report, 
dated the i6th, of Amos and Thomas Fuller, a committee 
appointed by the selectmen "to Lay out a way; Beginning 
at the Road by Nathaniel Ware's and so thrugh M'' William 
Millse's Land into the Road above Rofemerry Pond; And 
alfo from the Road by the North End of John Hall's Lot 
to Kindrecks Bridge (So Called) And make Return to the 
Subfcribers as Soon as may be". At the annual meeting 
the town took action, and named Josiah Eaton, Capt. 
William Smith and Henry Dewing to lay out the same pro- 
posed road; in their report to the May meeting they de- 
scribe this road as "From the Corner of John Hall's Land 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 93 

as the way is now Drawn and Travil'd into Kindrick's 
Bridge (So Called), And alfo a New way as it is laid Out 
Upon the Said Mills'es Land Two Rods wide Adjoining to 
Nathaniel Ware's fence as it is Mark'd Out; Viz Beginning 
Near Said Ware's Barn, And Runing from thence into the 
Road above Rofemerry Pond (So Called) The land Said 
Roads are laid Out Upon to be Given by Said Mills, in Ex- 
change for that Part of an Old way formerly laid Out from 
Dedham to the Lower falls: Going thro Said Mills'es Home 
Lot, Viz from the Land of Jeremiah Eaton, as far as the 
middle of a watering Place at Rofemerry Pond (So Called) 
Formerly Referved by Ebenezer Mills for a watering Place, 
As the Same is Specify'd in a Plan and Deed Given to Na- 
thaniel Longley The Town Alfo Referving Liberty for Lieu* 
Robert Fuller his heirs and Afslgns (and Others Concern'd) 
to pafs and Repafs thro Gates and Barrs In Said Old way, 
as far as it Concerns them to Cart their wood and hay". 
The town accepted this road "Provided Said William 
Mills makes the New Road a Good and Pafsable Road". 
In the old times the "Rofemerry" meadows were flooded 
by reason of the sawmill dam on Wellesley Avenue, and the 
pond was much further north than the present Rosemary 
Pond, which was then insignificant, and has since beendugout. 

In 1782 Isaac Mills was paid £2, 8s., "for Land of said 
Mills that a Road was laid Out upon. Between Said Millse's 
and y Weft, Meeting Houfe". 

On March 10, 1783, the town accepted a road laid out 
"Two Rods wide On the Southwefterly Side of John Tol- 
man's House lot as the Same is Marked Out, In the Room of 
a Part of the Old Road Called Newell's Road as far as it 
joyns on Said Tolmans land. Provided there be no Coft to 
y" Town for the Same". On May 27, 1783, the town re- 
jected two proposed roads in the West part, but was favor- 
able to one "as it is laid Out from the Corner of Nathaniel 
Tolman's field to the Stick Bridge (So Called) Provided it is 
no Coft and Charge to the Town". The record is as follows: 



94 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

"We the Subfcribers being, Petitioned to: to lay out a 
way from the Stick Bridge (So Called) Near Lieu* Jonathan 
Gay's Nearly by the Dwelling Houfe of Doci Jonathan 
Davis, and So till it Comes to the Road by the Corner of 
Nathaniel Tolman's Land and we Having laid Out Said 
Road as Follows Viz: Beginning near Said Corner and So 
by Stakes on the North Side till it Comes to the Corner of 
Said Gay's Land Near the Stick Bridge above mentioned; 
Said Road to be one Rod and a half wide South of Said 
Stakes 



Needham July y« 6:^^ 1781. John Fifher 

W£? Fuller 
Aaron Smith 



Select 
Men" 



Article 9 of the warrant for March 13, 1786, was to see 
if the town would "Difcontinue a Road Leading from Ml 
Timothy Newells, through the Land of M' Ebenezer Day 
to the Road Leading from John Tolman's to Lie* Samuel 
Townfends And Accept of Another in the room that Should 
be Prefented to them at this Meeting". Capt. Aaron 
Smith, John Slack and Jofeph Kingsbery, Jr., were the com- 
mittee to view the proposed new road, and the article was 
dismissed May 11. Article 10 was to see if the town would 
lay out a leading way "from y® Land of Ml Elmun Tolmans 
to the road that leads from Lie* Jonathan Gay's to the Meet- 
ing Houfe", and this article was also dismissed. 

On March 15, 1787, the town voted to "Open a Road 
from the Road Leading from Efq Newells to Mi Samuel 
Daggetts' to Cap'' Caleb Kingsbery's Houfe which was 
Shut up as a Leading way Several years ago," and accepted 
a "Road from Said Kingsbery's to the Road Leading from 
Samuel Ware's to the Eaft Meeting Houfe, as it is now 
Travlled by said Kingsbery's: Field on the Southerly Side 
of a Hill In Lieu of the Road Laid Out over Said Hill to the 
aforesrd Road Leading from Wares to the Meeting Houfe". 
At the May meeting, 1788, the town reconsidered Its vote 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 95 

of March, 1787, "to open a Leading Road over Cheftnut 
Hill (So Called)", and the selectmen were "to Stake out the 
wedth of the aforeSald Road". The desired result does not 
appear to have been accomplished, as in 1796 the town 
chose William Fuller, Esq., Aaron Smith and Ad* Daniel 
Ware a committee on this road, and in May, 1796, the 
subject of the "Chefentree Road" was deferred to the next 
meeting. 

At the May meeting in 1796 the town accepted a "Road 
from the North end of Mi Nath^^ Wilson's lane to the Paper 
Mill and from thence to the Roa'^ leading from M? Nath^* 
Fifhers to Fifuers Bridge (so Called) as it is now Traviled 
if the Same may be done free of expense to the Town ex- 
cepting highway work"; the committee to lay out this 
road consisted of Ephraim Jackson, Lieut. Oliver Mills 
and Enoch Fisk. In 1796 the town put up twenty "Guide 
posts", some of which were painted and lettered by Edward 
Russell of West Needham.^ 

In 1797 Ensign Nathan Dewing, Enoch Fisk and Adj. 
Ware were chosen a committee in reference to a road from 
Capt. Josiah Newell's house. In 1799 the town refused to 
discontinue the road leading from Capt. John Tolman's 
house "to the Rode leading from Grate plain to Fishers 
Rode so Called from being an open rode and have it a 
Bridle way with Good Gates at each end". In 1800 
the town voted not to "turn the way leading from the 
mark'd tree so called to the Road leading from the Meet- 
ing house to Dover on Land of Cap* Jofiah Newell as it 
is now fenced out"; Joseph Fisher had petitioned for this 
change. 

In connection with transferring Henry and Capt. Nathan 
Dewing and Amos Morse to the Northwest highway 

1 The town has expended in the course of one hundred years a large sum for 
guide boards, but the record of them is chiefly interesting for the names of the 
painters. Many of the guide boards were renewed in 1829, at which time Luther 
Barrett painted and lettered twenty-four for f 18. The town records in some in- 
stances call these signs "Direct boards". 



g6 THE HISTORY OF nVeDHAM 

district, March, l8oi, mention Is made of the road from "the 
Gravel pit So Called Near Said Henry Dewlngs house to 
Sherburn Road". 

Article 7 of the warrant for the March meeting In 1803 
was to see if the town would accept a road "one Rod and 
half wide from the land of L*; Lemuel Mills' on Land of Sal- 
mon Barney to the Road leading from Cooks Bridge to the 
East meeting house in the place where the Selectmen have 
staked out the same". The matter was postponed, and 
brought up under the May warrant and dismissed, with 
the result that Lieut. Mills, the petitioner, brought suit in 
the Court of General Sessions, and in October Benjamin 
Slack,^ David Smith, Jr., and Royal M-^Intosh were chosen 
to represent the town in this case. In October, 1803, the 
town accepted a "Road from Wllfons corner (so called) 
to the center of the Bridge" at the Dover line. Wilson's 
Corner was at the junction of South and Charles River 
Streets. In December, 1803, Lieut. Jonathan Gay and Ben- 
jamin Slack were appointed agents to answer the committee 
named by the Court of the General Sessions of the Peace 
"to View the Road from Will 5? Bogles in Weston to the 
widow Olive Parkers In Needham agreeable to the Petition 
of Richard Kimball and others". 

In 1804 the town twice refused to accept the road laid 
out by the selectmen at the request of Jonathan Ellis, and 
a road laid out at the request of Lieut. Adam Jones had the 
same fate. Mr. Ellis appealed to the Court, and the town 
named Benjamin Slack, Enoch FIsk and James Smith to 
settle with him, and late in 1806 they reported favorably, 
but there was to be no expense for land taken "or abuttle- 
ments of the Bridge on the lower part of the s^ Bridge with 
the peers and Cappieces: and so long as the proprietors of 
the Mills of which the s*? lower part of S*? Bridge makes a 

1 The town was than engaged in troublesome and expensive litigation with Mr. 
Slack, who apparently sued the town for money expended by him, and others, in 
maintaining the school near the Lower Falls; the town finally settled the claim. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 97 

Dam supports the above which the sd town is Exempted 
from Doing; then said town to support the uper part of 
the Bridge with string pieces and plank". 

In April, 1807, the town dismissed the article to discon- 
tinue the road from Jonathan Gay, Jr.'s, to the "mark 
tree so Called", and to make it merely a leading way with 
bars and gates. Thirty years ago this road was passable, 
but has grown up to woods. Arthur Whitaker partially 
cleared the western portion about 1903. In May the ninth 
article was to see if the town would "Straten the road from 
opposite Daniel Ware's barn as Strait as will best accomo- 
date to the bridge north of the powder house". 

In March, 18 14, the town accepted the road staked out 
by the selectmen "in the South part of the Town near the 
Slitting Mill" "two Rods wide: running from the old road 
south of M^ George Fisher's new house" "to the River 
between the blacksmith's shop and the new house on Cap! 
Josiah Newell's Lan'^ built by Jonathan Newell". 

In April, 18 17, the town granted Major MTntosh a road 
as laid out by the selectmen, but he was to make a good road 
at his own expense "Except his own highway tax the present 
year which is to be worked out on Said Road and when 
Said Road is compleated he is to Discontinue the Road over 
the hill which is now traveled". In 1820 Benjamin Slack 
and Peter Lyon laid out a road through land of Daniel 
Hunting, and between the dwellings of William Eaton and 
Dea. Alden. 

In 1822 the town voted not to oppose "the Road now 
pending before the Court of general Sessions". In 1823 the 
town accepted the road (Rosemary Street) between the 
houses of Warren Dewing and William A. Kingsbury, pro- 
vided it was made at private expense, and voted to discon- 
tinue the old road from Mr. Dewing's to the Great Plain 
road when the new road was completed. Late the next 
year a committee reported in favor of extending the road 
from Lieut. Jonathan Gay's "to Natick", and the following 



98 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

April $200 were appropriated for that purpose. This is the 
west portion of Charles River Street. 

In 1825 the town accepted the favorable report of a com- 
mittee as to a road from Dover to Newton, and voted "to 
discontinue the road from near Spencer Fullers to the road 
leading from the east meeting in Needham to Dover, in 
compensation for the one leading from said road to the 
Mills". This was also a part of Charles River Street. That 
year Major M'^Intosh, Elisha Lyon, Esq., and Capt. Reuel 
Ware were a committee to oppose the petition of William 
Bogle and others for a road (Blossom Street) from Weston 
to the Worcester Turnpike. In April, 1826, the town voted 
to discontinue "a peice of Shurburn road in Needham near 
Ware & Wilder's Store to M'- Seth Colburns". 

In 1829 some pieces of road north of the poor-house were 
accepted, and others discontinued. In 183 1 a new road was 
built near Major Macintosh's tavern, presumably that part 
of Central Avenue that is between Great Plain Avenue and 
the north end of Noyes Street. In 1832 the selectmen were 
instructed " to oppose the Corporation of the Worcester & 
Central turnpike road from their relinquishing them and 
become a town expence". This involved also the care of 
fifty feet of the bridge at the Upper Falls. The Worcester 
Turnpike was chartered March 7, 1806, built in 1808, and 
for many years its proprietors collected toll at different 
points. Daniel Dadmun had charge of the toll-gate just 
north of Blossom Street. In 1832 the proprietors were 
desirous of turning over to the towns their rights and obli- 
gations. Two years later William B. Parker, Benjamin 
Slack and William Flagg were a committee "to see If the 
toll gate might be moved for the Interest and convenience 
of the Inhabitants of the town of Needham". Late in 1833 
the road over Chestnut Hill was discontinued, and a new 
one, now Wellesley Avenue, accepted. Chestnut Hill is 
the long hill west of Forest Street. 

On April 20, 1835, the town appointed Thomas Kings- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 99 

bury, Benjamin Slack, and Moses Garfield to report as to 
the repairs needed on the turnpike, which had been "put 
on the town". That year the western portion of what is 
now Cartwright Street was laid out as an "open road" by 
the selectmen, having been only a "Bridle Way", and Brook 
Street was changed for about fifty rods, so that Reuel Ware's 
house was no longer on the south side of the road, but on the 
north, as at the present time. 

In 1837 a committee was directed to oppose a road which 
the County Commissioners were asked to lay out "from 
Widow Abigail Cheneys to the Upper Falls", and in 1838 
a new road from Charles River to the North school was 
made, and there were minor changes in that section that 
year, and in the years directly following. The familiar 
name "Mark Tree Road" occurs in 1838.^ 

In 1840 the selectmen were to protect the interests of the 
town "where fences are set in too narrow", encroaching 
upon town roads, and the highway surveyors were made a 
committee to change district lines. The town accepted a 
short piece of road near "Flag House Hill", running south 
to Great Plain road, and discontinued the old road from that 
hill to the said Great Plain road. In 1841 there were four 
small bridges in the West Centre highway district. 

In 1848 the town paid Lewis Beals and Stephen Hays the 
large sum of $900 for building a road from West Needham 
"Depot" to William D. Kingsbury's. This road had been 
laid out by the County Commissioners, and the year before 
the town had sought of the General Court relief from an 
order of the Commissioners in reference to it, or a part of it. 
The two following years considerable work was done in the 
Lower Falls section, and Central Avenue was straightened 
south of Charles River Street, and the latter street near 
Spencer Fuller's was also improved to the South Mills. 

^ This is the name in general use, although the selectmen reported it as 
Marked Tree Road when a list of approved, or suggested, street names was 
prepared by them in 1876, and the latter name was confirmed by vote of the 
town. 



lOO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In 1849 the old road from the Lower Falls to Weston was 
discontinued, as a new one had been built which ran by the 
house of Amos Allen, Esq., who was a justice of the peace, 
and for some years rather prominent in town. The same 
year Dexter Ware, George K. Daniell and Dea. Asa Kings- 
bury were a committee to consider discontinuing the old 
road from Grantville "depot" to Grantville Hotel. 

In 1850 the road was straightened between the houses of 
Dea. Jonathan Newell and George Revere, although it 
curves at the present time (191 1). 

In 185 1 the town directed the selectmen "to fill up or 
otherwise make safe the dangerous watering places", which 
led to the disappearance of those wayside pools, a few of 
which may still (191 1) be seen in Dover and in other towns. 

In 1852 the selectmen were authorized to discontinue the 
old road from Parker Plain to the Methodist meeting-house, 
and to lay out a road from land of Ephraim Loker and 
James Reynolds to "Pine Plain so called". At this period 
many of the roads were straightened, and new ones pro- 
posed, which in several instances were not constructed for 
some years. The "McCracken road" from "near the 
Noyes Place, to the Worcester Turnpike" appears to be 
the road that Thomas Kingsbury built by contract in 1858 
for about $400. Among the roads straightened was that part 
of Neholden Street between the blacksmith's shop and 
Garden Street, which until 1855 ran by the front door of 
the home of Artemas Newell, Esq., who laid out and graded 
the new road, the town discontinuing the old one. 

Hillside Avenue from Webster Street to Hunnewell Street 
was accepted in 1857. The next year William Flagg built 
Lovewell Road at a cost to the town of upward of $400, 
and Seaver Street was built at this time. Meeting-house 
Hill, Neholden Street, was reduced in 1854, and important 
changes made in that road, and again in 1859-60, when the 
elaborate stone wall was built by William Gilbert Jones, a 
skilful mason, samples of whose work are familiar objects, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM loi 

although the builder is unknown to the present generation. 
John Kingsbury, 2d, cut down Meeting-house Hill in 1859, 
dumping the material on the green to the westward, much 
to the disgust of Davis C. Mills, who had carefully graded 
and seeded the place. In the course of years John F. Mills, 
a son of Davis C. Mills, in a large measure repaired the 
damage. 

It is difficult to trace the changes made in the roads dur- 
ing 1840-59, partly because in many instances there was no 
special appropriation, and particularly as the result of losing 
the road book, or books. Sixty-five years ago Great Plain 
Avenue was crooked and the portion opposite Garden Street 
was farther south, and there was a curve by Mark Tree 
Road which made the road southwest of the Munson house. 
It came out Onto the present course just east of the Mcin- 
tosh ledge. At the time this road was straightened a rattle- 
snake was shot on the ledge south of the present Marsh 
house. 

The Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated that in his youth 
there was no such road as the westerly part of Grove Street, 
which now runs by Dana Hall. 

The year 1859 was one of activity in road building, and 
John Fuller constructed the Libby Road, and bridge, at an 
expense exceeding $1100, while John J. Perry made a new 
road near the railroad station in Wellesley for $400. The 
fine trees on Washington Street in Wellesley Hills were set 
out by John Curtis and John W. Shaw during the Civil 
War, or shortly before. South Street was laid out by the 
County Commissioners in 1861. 

During the Civil War road building was at a stand-still, 
but in 1865 Hunnewell Road, now Hunnewell Street, was 
made, an appropriation of $300 having been granted for that 
purpose. The name of this street is derived from Samuel 
Hunnewell, an early inhabitant, and it has been said that 
the present street includes a cart path that anciently led 
to his house. In 1866 "Highlandville Road", which is 



102 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Highland Avenue from Great Plain Avenue to Hunnewell 
Street, was constructed by J. B. & C. Dacey for $1950, 
according to plans drawn by Robert Mansfield. 

At the annual meeting in 1867 the town declined to accept 
a road laid out by the Honorable E. K. Whitaker from Great 
Plain Avenue to the new County road near the Oakland 
Institute, but voted "that the County Commissioners 
should terminate the new County Road by taking East 
Street as the rout to Great Plain Avenue". During the 
year ending January 31, 1868, there were heavy falls of snow, 
and it cost the town over $1600 to break out the roads. 
In 1868 the selectmen were authorized to spend $1000 on 
what is now Greendale Avenue between Kendrick Street 
and the "Dedham Road". 

In 1 87 1 and 1872 the town expended about $9500 re- 
building and widening the bridge at Lake Crossing, and 
constructing the arch under the road, according to plans of 
J. Franklin Fuller. Johnson & Richmond were the con- 
tractors. This arch is not to be confused with the passage 
way under the Boston & Albany Railroad track. 

In 1871 $1500 were voted to enable the selectmen to pur- 
chase gravel banks. Another costly improvement of the 
highways in 1871 and 1872 was the widening of Washing- 
ton Street at the Lower Falls, which contributed largely to- 
ward necessitating a loan of $20,000. Maple Street was 
accepted in 1871, but not built until 1873, in which latter 
year $1000 was spent on Mark Tree Road. Central Street 
was also rebuilt in 1873. 

The early seventies were years of enterprise in Needham, 
and many new streets were petitioned for. 

In 1874 the town spent $18,000 on its roads, and Reser- 
voir Street was built, Hillside Avenue north of West Street 
opened for travel, and Chestnut Street was widened from 
South Street to Day's Bridge according to an order of the 
County Commissioners issued the preceding year. The 
last piece of work cost only $500. Wellesley Avenue was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 103 

relocated in 1875 in consequence of the construction of the 
Sudbury River conduit, but the City of Boston bore the 
expense, and paid the land damages. Brook Street was 
remade in 1878, and the Ireland gravel land was purchased 
for $500. In 1879 the selectmen advised an appropriation 
for sidewalks, the abutters to pay one half of the expense, 
and in 1880 $300 were voted for this object, and thus be- 
gan the construction of sidewalks in Needham, to result in 
fine concrete walks, some of them extending long distances. 
In 1884 a special appropriation of $300 was again made for 
sidewalks, and the next year the same amount was voted 
as one of the annual grants. The first concrete sidewalk in 
Needham was built in 1890 or 1891. 

The question of drainage occupied the attention of the 
town both before and after the division, and was a road 
matter. Great difficulty has been experienced in draining 
the vicinity of the Needham station, and in 1880 $1100 
were appropriated for that purpose. 

In 1878 the County Commissioners had ordered the 
widening of Highland Avenue, and in 1879 it was made 
fifty feet wide between Great Plain Avenue and Webster 
Street, the change being almost entirely on the east side, 
where the damages were considerable. 

In 1880 the road which ran close to the house of Henry F. 
Durant, Esq., was straightened, largely at his expense, 
improving the street, but it was not until after the division 
of the town that a much greater change was made in the 
street, giving Mrs. Durant a fine lawn. 

In 1884 Causeway Street was included as a part of Great 
Plain Avenue, making the avenue extend from Wellesley 
to the Dedham line. Hillside Avenue was continued from 
West Street to Rosemary Street by Maney Brothers, con- 
tractors. Their price was to be $1750, but they obtained 
$2457.62 in a suit, and the town also paid Mrs. Morton about 
$600 for land and damages. 

In 1889 Great Plain Avenue from Noyes Street to Curtis 



I04 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Mcintosh's house was straightened and widened by order 
of the County Commissioners at an expense of over $4000. 
Opposite the old Mills house the road is said to have been 
anciently in the meadow, and west of the big elms. Lieut. 
Fisher Mills took some young elms to Boston to sell, but a 
few were rejected by an official as imperfect, and when he 
got home he set them on the east side of the road. 

In 1888 the town had purchased a large stone crusher, 
which, with an Atlas engine and the freight charges, cost 
about $2100. The first steam roller dates from 1901, and 
was made by the Buffalo Pitts Company. It is a twelve 
ton machine, and cost $2800. The first watering cart owned 
by the town was bought in 1899 and cost $325. These 
additions to the facilities of the street department have 
made improved methods of road building possible. The 
first efficient use of the stone crusher in Needham, resulting 
in a "stone road", was when Nathaniel Wales was superin- 
tendent of streets in 1896. Mr. Wales also served in 1887 
and 1888. 

In 1897 Webster Street between Central and Greendale 
Avenues was widened, and Great Plain Avenue from Curtis 
Mcintosh's to the Wellesley line; the expense of the first- 
mentioned work was nearly $8000, and of the second about 
$2800. 

In March, 1902, the town restored the old name of the 
Broad Meadow Road, and during that year South Street 
was again reconstructed. In 1902 Great Plain Avenue from 
Highland Avenue to Garden Street was widened by order 
of the County Commissioners, which resulted in the removal. 
May 2, 1904, of some fine elms south of the common. The 
elms extending from Nehoiden Street to the Baptist Church 
were set out by Edgar K. Whitaker and sons on the day that 
the Cochituate water was introduced into Boston, which 
was October 25, 1848. A sidewalk was also made by Mr. 
Whitaker, or land for one given, and there were banks of 
shrubs placed by the roadside. The Kingsbury-Whitaker- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 105 

Morgan place then included the land between Neholden 
Street and Highland Avenue. 

The Whitakers are said by Mr. James Mackintosh, and 
others, to have set out trees on both sides of the road from 
Marked Tree Road to Pickering Street. 

The first State road built in Needham was a mile of High- 
land Avenue, beginning at the bridge, and the work was 
done in 1902 by the local street department under super- 
vision. The cost was about $6100, of which $5340 was paid 
by the Commonwealth. In 1905 the town took the contract 
for a second mile of State road to begin at Day's Bridge 
and to extend north over Chestnut Street, and completed 
it the following year at a cost of about $6500, practically 
the whole expense being paid by the Commonwealth and 
the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company. 

In 1905 Grove Street was out of repair, and was remade 
after the manner of a State road at a cost of about $2250, 
and reflected credit upon the street department. South 
Street has been an expensive highway, and in 1906 $1500 
were spent to make It equal to a State road. 

Elaborate improvements were made on Hillside Avenue 
and Rosemary Street in the years 1907-9, including walls, 
iron fences and sidewalks. The wall by the pond was built 
in 1908 and 1909 and is two hundred feet long and in some 
places ten feet high. The large willows on the shore were 
removed in 1907. 

In 1909 means were adopted to permanently lay the dust 
on some principal streets, and Tarvia B. was used success- 
fully on two and one half miles of road, and the more tem- 
porary Terracolio on six miles. 

On Highland Avenue, a State Road, Asphaltoil was ap- 
plied hot, and is expected to last two years. 

In 1910 "Dust suppression" became an important item 
in the highway expenditures, five and one half miles being 
covered with Tarvia B., and about six miles sprinkled with 
an asphalt oil emulsion. 



io6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Needham has grown rapidly within a few years, and much 
land has been put upon the market by men who are not 
otherwise identified with the town. In too many instances 
names without significance have been given to new streets, 
often as a compliment to some friend or relative, or perhaps 
selected at random by a surveyor. When the citizens are 
asked to accept a street and to vote money for Its construc- 
tion, it would seem proper that the name should then be 
subject to change, or the question of Its appropriateness 
referred to a committee. 



Care of tfje iligfjtoaps anb tfje Buties 
of ?|igf)toap ^urbepors 

By a law enacted on December 6, 1693, each town was 
required to choose annually two or more Surveyors of 
Highways, who were to be sworn to the faithful performance 
of their duties. Refusal to serve as a highway surveyor 
involved a fine of twenty shillings, and for neglect of duty 
when in office it was £5. Every male inhabitant over 
sixteen years old was liable to be called upon for work on 
the roads, and there was a fine of 2s., 6d. per day for absence 
when summoned, unless represented by a substitute. The 
failure to send a cart and team was punished with a fine of 
six shillings per day. The selectmen had power to lay out 
particular and private ways, and the Court of Quarter 
Sessions received applications for public roads. The appro- 
priations for the highways during the Provincial period 
averaged about £50 per year in Needham, although only 
£26, i6s., 4d. "Lawful Money" in the years 1750 and 1751. 
When In "Land Bank Bills", or other depreciated currency, 
the sum voted was nominally large, and was £450 In 1748. 
The grant was usually £90 each year from the close of the 
War of the Revolution to 1795, Inclusive, but was raised 
to £135 In 1796 and 1797. The next year the appropriation 
was for the first time reckoned In dollars, and was of $500. 
This was the amount annually voted by the town until 1803, 
when it was increased to $600, and so continued for many 
years. During the thirties the average amount of the grant 
was $775, in the forties It was $1000, and In the fifties 



io8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

S1694.80. The appropriations for the highways were small 
during the Civil War, but before the close of the decade 
had risen to $10,000 per year. For ten years after the divi- 
sion of the town, 1881-90, the average cost of the roads was 
under $7000 a year, but has since greatly increased. Eighty 
years ago the expense of breaking out the roads in winter 
did not exceed $25, although the falls of snow are said to 
have been heavier than at the present time. Beginning with 
1846 the town annually authorized the selectmen to have 
the roads broken out, but there was no special appropria- 
tion for this purpose until 1873, when $1200 were granted. 

In 1721 the town voted to do "ouer Hyway Work by a 
Rate", and for more than a century this was substantially 
the annual vote in Needham, and accorded with the general 
custom In New England. The rate was necessarily based 
upon "Last years bills", as most of the tax was worked out 
by the men and boys in the spring. As late as 183 1 at least 
one half of the road work was done in May, and only one 
seventh of the money was reserved for the winter. There 
were years when a portion of the highway tax was required 
to be paid in money. 

It was not unusual to permit men to work out their taxes 
on what were practically private ways. For example: On 
May 22, 1755, the town voted "to allow ten of Dea° John 
Fifhers Neareft Nabours to work out there Proportion of 
the High way Rate in the Road Leading to his Mill". In 
1784 Dea. John and Nathaniel Fisher, and Josiah Newell, 
Jr., were to "work Out their Highway Rate In y^ Highway 
Near their Mills." The mills referred to were the grist- 
mill and the sawmill In the South part of the town. In 
1789 a similar vote was passed, and Simeon Colburn, 
Jonathan and George Fisher were permitted to work out 
their taxes on the road previously mentioned, and were In 
addition to Nathaniel Fisher and Josiah Newell, Jr. 

On May 12, 1791, the town voted to "allow the proprietors 
of broad Medows (So Called) that use the Causway that 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 109 

Leads into Said Medows over Poles Island to work one 
Day Each on Said Causway and to be allowed for Said work 
as done in the Highways". In 1802 Capt. Josiah Newell 
was allowed $8.66 for work which he did on the highways 
for seven men who failed to do their part. In "working" 
out these taxes there was too much "soldiering", and in 
1836 the town directed the surveyors to "cut down" the 
pay "if any person is not faithful at his work". 

On June 5, 1743, the town voted to allow for road work 
"one Shilling old tenour per Hour for a fingle man", and 
two shillings was considered fair pay "for a man and 
Teame". This was nominally high compensation, and the 
amount was doubled in 1748, but was probably no better 
than 3d. per hour in good money, which was the value placed 
upon the road work in 1753, either for a man or for a 
"Teame". The latter expression referred to oxen well 
into the nineteenth century. There was no change in the 
highway wages till 1778, when the pay was six pence per 
hour; in 1780 it was six shillings, and in 1781 "Six Dollers" 
in sadly depreciated currency. In 1782 it was again in hard 
money, and was four pence per hour for each man; this was 
increased to six pence in 1796. Nine cents was the value 
placed upon an hour's work on the roads in 1798, and for 
fifty-four years, 1 799-1 853, there was no advance from ten 
cents per hour, which was the amount established in 1799, 
either for one man or for a team, with the exception of two 
years. In 1828 eleven cents were allowed per hour, and in 
1829 twelve and one half cents. In 1854 the pay was twelve 
and one half cents for an hour's work, and continued un- 
changed to the time of the Civil War, when it varied from 
ten to fifteen cents. One horse was reckoned the same as 
one man, but in "War time" a yoke of oxen were estimated 
as earning a shilling an hour. In i860 the inhabitants 
of Needham worked out $1500 of the highway grant for 
that year. 

In the spring of 1806 the town voted to provide each 



no THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

highway district with "a good Plow for the use of highway 
work of Sufficient size to accommodate them: And Choose 
a committee to Build the Same". The committee consisted 
of Daniel Felton, Maj. Mcintosh, Lieut. Lemuel Mills, 
Enoch FIsk, David Smith, Jr., and Jacob Pierce. Mr. 
Smith had much to do with the roads. In 1809 the town 
paid $5 for a plough, but one for the West District cost 
$9.17 in 1811. 

In the early years the Town of Needham chose four or five 
Surveyors of Highways each spring, but there were no defi- 
nite districts. For some reason only two surveyors were 
elected in 1722, and again in 1730, and but three in 1724. 
The first record of Highway districts in Needham is found 
in the vote of May 17, 1736, which named Captain Cook, 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Henry Dewing and Peter Edes, to- 
gether with the selectmen, a committee "to Devide the 
Highways of the Town for Five years". At the annual 
meeting in 1767 Capt. Ephraim Jackson, Lieut. Day, Jona- 
than Deming, Isaac Underwood and Ensign Cook were 
instructed "to divide the Roads into DIftricts that shall 
Continue from year to year Dureing the Towns Pleafure". 
Later divisions were based upon that of 1767, although the 
lines of highway and school districts were from time to 
time changed, either on the recommendations of special 
committees, or by vote of the town under articles in war- 
rants; if only one or two estates were concerned the latter 
method was often availed of. 

After the creation of districts the number of surveyors was 
seven until reduced to six by the annexation of the West 
End District to Natick In 1797. From 1822 to 185 1 the 
number of districts was nine, and there was a surveyor for 
each of them. In 185 1 there was a new division into ten dis- 
tricts, which number was reduced to four in 1867. A fifth 
district was formed from the others in 1874, and was 
known as the Centre District, but the next year there were 
but four, which remained the number to April 10, 1876, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM iii 

when Augustus Stevens was made sole superintendent of 
streets. In 1878 Charles Hiram Dewing, who had been a 
surveyor of highways under the old system, as had Mr. 
Stevens, was chosen colleague of the latter, and had charge 
of the East portion of the town. In 188 1 the town was 
divided, and Mr. Stevens became superintendent of the 
streets of Wellesley, and Mr. Dewing of those of Needham. 
With the exception of two years Mr. Dewing served until 
his death in 1895, and was thoroughly competent, and 
highly respected. 

Since 1901 David Hugh Livingston, a popular, genial 
citizen, has been the superintendent, and has met the in- 
creasing demands of his position with progressive efficiency. 
His resignation took effect on June i, 191 1, when he became 
superintendent of streets in Dedham. 

In 1874 the selectmen urged the election of road commis- 
sioners, and the question of choosing such officials has been 
repeatedly before the town, particularly In 1890. Since 
1876 the selectmen have been annually elected surveyors 
of highways by hand votes. 

Of the old-time surveyors of highways entitled to mention 
in the town history, either on account of length of service 
or because of their ability In office, are the following: 

Capt. William Pierce, Upper South and West Centre 
Districts. 

John Kingsbury, Centre and Great Plain. 

Dea. George G. Stevens, Great Plain. 

George Otis Kingsbury, East. 

Charles M'=Intosh, Centre. 

Asa Fuller, West Centre. 

The highway surveyors were collectors of the highway 
taxes, and by a vote of 1781 the town directed them to pay 
unexpended balances to the town treasurer. At the annual 
meeting In 1838 the town voted "that the highway survey- 
ors be Chosen by the districts and Sanctioned and approved 
by the Select-men", "Districts to meet for Choice of 



112 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Highway Surveyors Monday next". This arrangement 
was in force for years, the town directing when the meet- 
ings should be held, often designating the same evening 
for the choice of district, or prudential, school committees, 
but at a different hour. In 1838 the highway surveyors 
were chosen between 4 and 6 P.M., and the meetings were 
notified by the surveyors. The moderators on these oc- 
casions were required to make returns to the selectmen. 

As collectors of a portion of the taxes the surveyors were 
subject to rules, and in 1838 were directed to bring in their 
books to the selectmen "before their year expires". In 1839 
they were to make their returns to the town treasurer "on 
polls & personal property before July, on Real Estate before 
November next". The last vestige of the separation of the 
highway taxes from other town assessments was eliminated 
in 1874. The highway system was a favorite subject for 
discussion, and for the consideration of special committees, 
during the nineteenth century, and subsequent to 1881 
there were attempts to return to old methods. 

In 1858 the surveyors were instructed to remove loose 
stones from the roads as often as once a month, and this 
vote was repeated in later years. In 1859 the selectmen 
and the surveyors, acting together, were authorized to buy 
gravel. For some years prior to the abolition of highway 
surveyors, as distinct from the selectmen, the latter directed 
the expenditure of the greater part of the highway grant. 
In 1869 the compensation allowed a surveyor of highways 
in Needham was $3 per day. 

The record of the laying out of roads in Needham is con- 
tained in special books, the volume beginning in November, 
1859, continuing in use to 1901. The earlier book, or books, 
is said to have been burned in the great fire in Boston in 
November, 1872. 



iBribgesi 



On February 15, 171 3/14, "Thes Town being sencabell 
of their need of a County breig ouer Charlls River and the 
town being not all of a mind in which place this breig Shold 
be Stated voted in the aflfarmitive that thay would Stand 
too whatt the Honered Comunitty Shold doe in Statting a 
place for a breig ofer Charls River bitween the uper falls & 
broad Medows". On January 27, 1730/1, the town chose 
Andrew Dewing, John Fisher and Robert Fuller a committee 
to petition the General Court "that Cambridg Great Cart 
Bridg ouer Charls River Might be taken Down". On 
April I, 1752, John Fisher, Esq., was chosen agent to urge 
the General Court to free the town of Needham from all 
expense on account of a bridge over Neponset River because 
they "have eight Bridges over Charles River that they 
help Maintain". 

COOK'S BRIDGE 

Cook's Bridge is the only ancient bridge in Needham that 
has lost its old name, as far as popular usage is concerned. 
It took its designation from Capt. Robert Cook, who was, 
with the exception of the minister, the most prominent 
citizen of Needham from 171 1 to 1756. Early in the last 
century the Cook family removed from this locality, and 
gradually the old name, Cook's Bridge, faded away, and 
ceased to appear in the records of Needham and Newton, 
but on March 16, 1903, the town by vote declared the 
names of the bridges, designating this one as Cook's Bridge. 
On October 18, 1742, the town appointed Captain Cook, 



114 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Robert Fuller, Eleazer Kingsbery, James KIngsbery and 
Jeremiah Eaton "to finifh the Rebuilding one Halfe part of 
the Cart Bridge Ouer Charles River Near Eliakim Cook's". 
John Alden repaired this bridge in 1750; Eleazer Kingsbery 
replanked it In October, 1752, and In 1753; he also made 
repairs in 1756, '60, '64 and '69. John Mills repaired this 
bridge In 1755, as did Ensign Eliakim Cook in 1761. On 
May 22, 1766, the town chose Capt. Ephralm Jackson, 
Capt. Eleazer KIngsbery and Dea. John Fisher to join with 
Newton in "Rebuilding" this bridge, although three years 
later the town refused to repair its half. Daniel Wight 
worked on It the next year, and John Marean built, at the 
expense of Needham, one half of the "Stone Buttlement" 
in the river at the Upper Falls. 

In 1778, and from time to time for many years, the town 
repaired "Cook's Bridge", "Kendrick's Bridge", "Fisher's 
Bridge", "Day's Bridge", "Pratt's Bridge" and "new 
Bridge", and these items are of Interest chiefly as illustrat- 
ing the use of the old names. ^ 

Considerable repairs were made on "Cooks Bridge (so 
Called) " in 1796. Lieut. Moses Garfield repaired this 
bridge in November, 18 17, when he employed for the work 
David Ayers and Samuel Floyd. 

John Westcoat did stone work at this bridge In 1844, 
when other repairs were made on Cook's Bridge and on the 
Turnpike bridge. 

In 1873 the bridge at Ellis's Mills, Upper Falls, was re- 
built at a cost to Needham of $400, and about as much was 
expended on Cook's Bridge; the next year the town rebuilt 
the stone foot-bridge. 

Cook's Bridge was widened and partly rebuilt by the 

^ The "White Oak Plank" used on these bridges was often purchased from 
Lieutenant, later Colonel, Jonathan Kingsbery, who had a sawmill on Rosemary 
Brook, on the westerly side of what is now Wellesley Avenue, and who was for 
years the principal lumber dealer in town. It may seem unnecessary to give 
details of these repairs, but there is so little about the early bridges on record that 
everything relating to them is of some interest. In 1771 there was a ford way 
about half a mile north of Cook's Bridge. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 115 

City of Newton In 1897 on account of the proposed use of 
it by the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company, 
which paid $1250, reducing Needham's share of the expense 
to $960, or about one fourth of the total cost. This bridge 
has three stone arches, and there is a wooden walk on the 
west side, which is supported by timbers. 

BRIDGE NEAR ELLIS'S MILL, UPPER FALLS 

Repairing the bridge "near the Cotton Factories" in 
August, 1846, resulted in the town having to pay to Barney 
L. White $900 for obstructing the water, interfering with the 
dam, etc., although the cost of the labor and material for the 
repairs of the bridge was less than $200. This bridge, which 
is on the Turnpike, and west of Cook's Bridge, was at the 
time of the division of the town a wooden structure, resting 
on wooden piers, and remained unchanged until 1905. The 
contractor who tore it away states that he thinks that a 
portion of the timbers had been in this bridge for a century 
and a half. The dam near It was also of wood. 

There was a ford In the Charles about seventy-five rods 
west of the Turnpike. 

KENDRICK'S BRIDGE 

Kendrick's Bridge Is near the "Landing place", which is 
referred to In the early records, and where apparently there 
was some sort of bridge in 1716. As the bridges were then 
usually neighborhood affairs, the town records prior to 1740 
are silent as to several of the older ones. 

On May 23, 1757, the town granted certain men "who 
were at the Charge of Building the Bridge Neare Cap*" 
KIndrecks the Liberty to work out there Highway Rate 
in Repairing Said Bridg' this year". In 1765 Josiah Eaton, 
Jonathan Smith and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen 
to join with Newton in rebuilding this bridge. Capt. Kings- 
bery, who had the previous year been on a committee to 



ii6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

arrange the matter with Newton, and who had had experience, 
appears to have directed the work, although Mr, Eaton 
was active. Theophilus Richardson was the "Carpenter 
for Training the Bridge Near CapB Kindrecks".^ Jeremiah, 
Eleazer and Ebenezer Fuller worked "Cuting & Carting 
Timber for said Bridge", which timber was purchased from 
the townspeople, much of it at about nine shillings per "Tun." 

In 1772, or early in 1773, Kendrick's Bridge was repaired 
by Captain Kingsbery and Benjamin Mills, and about the 
same time work was done on Pratt's and Day's Bridges; 
the men then employed were Timothy Newell, Enoch 
Kingsbery, Ebenezer Fuller, Ellakim Cook and Joseph 
Daniell, Jr. Within five years "Kindricks Bridge" needed 
attention, and in 1792 Lieut. Oliver Mills rebuilt it. Need- 
ham's share of the work lasted until December, 1793, and 
tons of timber, including two and one half and four-inch 
planks, were supplied by Lieut. Mills, who got the "Cap 
peice" from Norman Clark of Newton. The Lieutenant 
worked on the bridge twenty-eight and one half days him- 
self and boarded Samuel Fisher, who, with Royal and Gid- 
eon Mcintosh, Timothy Dewing, Capt. Robert Smith and 
Enoch Mills, were hired at four shillings per day each. 
Ensign Michael Harris and Ebenezer M^'Intosh also fur- 
nished timber, Jonathan Kingsbery stone, and Robert 
Fuller the long "Cheftnut Sticks". The oxen, for which 
the town payed 5s., 9d. per yoke per day, belonged to 
Lieutenant Mills, Jonathan Kingsbery, Enoch Mills and 
Nathaniel Ware, Jr. 

In i860 this bridge was partly rebuilt, and at that time, 
or in 1 86 1, work was done on the road, now Kendrick Street. 
There was considerable controversy with Mr. Munson, the 

^ Capt. Caleb Kenrick, as he spelled his surname, lived near this bridge. Dr. 
Samuel A. Green in his book entitled "Groton during the Revolution" gives the 
epitaph of Capt. Kenrick's wife, who, to escape the turmoil of the war, visited her 
daughter, Mrs. Dana, in Groton, and died there. The name of Kendrick's Bridge, 
often Kindreck's, Kindrick's, or Kendreck's in the old records, but rarely, if ever, 
Kenrick's, is familiar to thousands who frequent the river in summer and winter. 
The names of our other bridges are comparatively unknown to the public. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 117 

contractor, as to what he ought to do to fulfil his agreements 
relative to this road. Kendrlck's Bridge was carried down 
the river by the freshet of 1886, and It cost Needham about 
$1000 to repair the damage, and to build a new abutment; 
the City of Newton also expended at least $500. In the 
town report of 1886 this bridge Is correctly called Kenrlck's. 
It is a wooden bridge, and was again repaired In 1902. 



THE CAUSEWAY 

The construction of the Causeway was one of the very 
early enterprises of Dedham. The bridge itself was never 
within the limits of Needham. In 1783 the bridge near 
Thomas Payn's (Glancy, 191 1) was repaired, and in 1791 
Needham was at some expense "for a Bridge on the great 
Caufey built the last year". 

VINE ROCK bridge; 

Vine Rock Bridge was built prior to April, 1736, by resi- 
dents of Dedham, Needham and Medfield, and at their own 
expense, after unsuccessful attempts to have It made a 
County bridge; it was repaired by the town of Dedham in 
1742. 

The residents of Needham always objected to paying for 
work on this bridge, and In 1760-2 there was a controversy, 
which Involved the attendance of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and 
Nathaniel Fisher on the Court In Boston In 1760. In De- 
cember, 1768, the selectmen of Needham granted £3, lis., 
7d., 2f. to pay Abner Ellis, town treasurer of Dedham, 
"Needham's Part of Repair of Vine Rock Bridge" in 1759 
and 1760, and charges of the Court; also £1, 8s., 4d., 2f. 
for repairs In 1766. Dea. John Fisher and Michael Met- 
calf effected the settlement with the selectmen of Dedham, 
but in 1772 Aaron Smith, Jr., was granted twelve shillings 
for "Afslfting the Select Men in the Affair of Vine Rock 
Bridge". The next year Dedham called on Needham to 



Ii8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

pay one half of the cost of rebuilding this bridge, which was 
outside of the limits of Needham, and the demand was 
refused then, and again in 1785. The town paid Joslah 
Ware, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Caleb KIngsbery and Na- 
thaniel Fisher considerable sums to contest It, but later had 
to grant to Mr. Fisher about £10, for repairing this bridge, 
and something over £1 to Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery. 

In 1787 Col. M'^Intosh, our member of the General Court, 
secured the passage of an Act, November 13, 1787, which 
released Needham from an assessment of March 6, on ac- 
count of this bridge. The Act was probably the result of a 
petition from Needham, dated June 21.^ 

NEW BRIDGE (LYON'S BRIDGE) 

The map of Needham In 1771 designates a bridge where 
Lyon's Bridge is now as the "New Bridge". 

On October i, 1740, Amos Fuller, Timothy Kingsbery, 
Jr., and Joslah Newell, Jr., were chosen "to repair or build 
the New Bridg between the s*^ Towns of Dedham & Need- 
ham". On March 8, 1741/2, this committee was granted 
£26 for rebuilding the "Cart Bridge Caled New Bridge". 
The money had been appropriated the previous May. Mr. 
Newell repaired this bridge ten years later, and In 1756, or 
1757, Lieut. Amos Fuller replanked It with white oak, 
at a cost of 3/4d. per foot for the material. In May, 1763, 
the town chose Timothy Newell, Ebenezer Fuller and Lieut. 
Jonathan Day to rebuild "new Bridge between Needham 
and Dedham". Lieut. Day was paid £8, 2s. for rebuilding 
one half of It at that time, and in 1774 Timothy Newell and 
Ebenezer Fuller again had charge of the repairs. In 1785 
the town voted to discontinue New Bridge, but that same 
year paid Nathaniel Tolman and Aaron Smith, Jr., for put- 
ting It in order. 

In 1807 Lieutenants Ware and Garfield with James 

^ About 1844 the road for some distance was changed, or closed, and a new bridge 
built farther east. 







LYON S BRIDGE 




DAY S BRIDGE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 119 

Smith were charged with repairing the bridges over the 
Charles, and were instructed not to assume for the town 
more than two fifths of the cost of repairing "the bridge 
called new bridge". In 1826 money was expended on this 
bridge, Including $45 paid Reuben Richards for building 
"the middle peer". 

Lyon's Bridge was rebuilt in 1877 by William H. Ward, 
contractor, for $10,000; John M. Harris was the engineer. 
As both the County and Dedham shared the expense, it 
cost Needham only $4520, including the work on the ap- 
proach, which was done by Michael Kiernan. This bridge 
is built upon one bold arch. 

DEDHAM AVENUE BRIDGE 

Needham's portion of the expense of building Dedham Ave- 
nue Bridge, which dates from 1871 to 1873, was about $5000. 
The King Iron Bridge Company contracted for the bridge 
itself, but John Kiernan constructed the abutments, and 
in 1872 brought suit against the town, and got a verdict of 
^39^-73' Charles Linehan had the contract for Dedham 
Avenue at $10,000. This bridge was damaged by the fresh- 
ets in 1886, and repaired by the two towns at an expense of 
about $300. It was an iron bridge, planked, and the span 
was eighty-five feet. In 1902 Needham expended about 
$250 for stringers, planks and labor on it. The iron bridge 
was replaced in 1909 and 1910 by a two-arch concrete bridge, 
according to plans of B. T. Wheeler, and cost $19,028.35, 
Needham paying one fifth. 

DAY'S BRIDGE 

In 1754 Selectman Skinner had a considerable bill for 
"money Expended in the Afair of the Bridg by Jonathan 
Days", and "the affair of Days Bridg" was in the Court 
a year or two later. In May, 1756, Timothy Newell, who 
furnished material for bridges at this period, David Smith 
and Hezekiah Gay were chosen "to Rebuild y^ Bridg Nere 



I20 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Leu* Days", meaning that part of It "Laid upon Needham 
by the Quarter Sefsions". In the sixties Lieut. Jonathan 
Day made repairs on the bridge "Called Days Bridge", 
and again in 1793, when he was a Major. 

Day's Bridge was rebuilt in 1799, John Day having a bill 
of $69.50, and in the years 1822, 1843, 1873, 1883 and 1904 
it was either rebuilt or extensively renewed. In 1843 
William Eaton did the carpenter work, and Ephralm Parker, 
a well-known stone mason, was employed to build a "Stone 
Pier in the River at Days Bridge". Mr. Parker did other 
work for the town the same year, including "turning an 
Artch Bridge & raising the road near Daniel Morses house", 
at a cost of nearly $230. Day's Bridge Is a wooden bridge, 
built, as is customary, on stone piers. It was lifted up by 
the great freshets of 1886. Day's Bridge is referred to in 
deeds prior to 1795. 

NEWELL'S BRIDGE 

Newell's Bridge Is said to have taken its name from Joslah 
Newell, who had a rolling-mill on the Dover side of the river. 
There was evidently a bridge in that locality long before 
1800, but our records are silent. 

On May 10, 18 13, the town chose Lieut. Garfield, Daniel 
Ware, Esq., and Benjamin Slack, Esq., "to meet the Com- 
mittee in Dover In regard to the Mill Bridge so call- and make 
a report to the town". There had been a bridge near the 
Slitting Mill for nearly twenty years, and on July 2d the 
town voted "to joine with the District of Dover In building 
a new Bridge over Charles River, near the Slitting mill in 
the south part of the Town and laying out a new road as 
stak- out by the selectmen And discontinue, the Road that 
is now occupied as a town way, and the Bridge". The same 
committee, with the addition of Major Ebenezer Mcintosh 
and Lieut. Lemuel Kingsbury, was appointed to attend to 
this work, which was accepted after some controversy as to 
discontinuing the old road. George Fisher appears to have 




NEWELL S BRIDGE 



f- 



>«• 






tn" 




FISHER S BRIDGE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 121 

directed the building of this bridge, or perhaps contracted 
for it, but the orders show payments to him of only $150. 

In 1829 Joseph Newell was paid $6 for services of himself 
and two yoke of oxen drawing stone for two days to repair 
the abutment of the bridge at the South Mills. Several 
hundred dollars were spent that year on the bridges, in- 
cluding Cook's, where Henry Crafts repaired the abutments, 
Mill Bridge at the Lower Falls, "KIndrick's", on which $200 
were expended, "neck Bridge", and perhaps others. 

In 183 1 there was a foot-bridge about one hundred and 
twenty-five rods east of Newell's Bridge. At this period 
the bridge was occasionally called the "Bridge at the South 
Mills", but usually "Newell's Bridge", which is the name 
in 191 1. This bridge was rebuilt as a stone arched bridge 
in 1847 by Haselton & Fuller, and Needham's half of the 
expense, including flowage damages, was about $1750. 

FISHER'S BRIDGE 

The records do not say when a bridge first crossed the 
Charles at Fisher's Bridge, but It was long before 1763, 
when the town paid Nathaniel Fisher, who lived near, for 
repairing the bridge, and in 1765 Dea. John Fisher was 
granted £10, 9s., 4d. for timber, labor and boarding men, 
"in Rebuilding one half of the Bridge Over Charles River 
Near the Houfe of the Said Dea- John FIfher", probably in 
1764.^ In 1777 Nathaniel Fisher was granted £8 for 153 
feet of "oak Plank, which he put onto Fifhers Bridge", 
and In 1786 the bridge was rebuilt at considerable expense. 
Ebenezer Clark, who worked on New Bridge in 1785, was 
nine days "in Framing and Ralfmg Fifhers' Bridge", and 
there were orders in favor of others for labor and materials 
employed on this bridge at that time "and the Wharfage 
joining". 

1 Deacon Fisher lived on the east side of Central Avenue, then " Fisher's Meeting 
Road", and next to the river, on the estate of fifty acres which John Fisher bought 
of Caleb Wheaton in 1746. 



122 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

This bridge was partly, or wholly, rebuilt in 1807, and in 
1847 Haselton & Fuller built the stone arches, of which 
there are three, as in Newell's Bridge, built by them the 
same season. The cost of both bridges is included in the 
$1750 already referred to. 

These two bridges, which are crossed by a roadway in 
appearance like the rest of the street, have required but 
little attention for sixty-five years. 

PIERCE BRIDGE 

What is now Charles River Street formerly ended at the 
Gay-Reynolds place. Jacob Pierce lived some distance 
south of the road, with a driveway nearly opposite the en- 
trance to the Gay-Reynolds house. 

In April, 1851, the town directed its selectmen to peti- 
tion the County Commissioners to lay out the road now 
leading to Pierce Bridge, but in 1853 the matter was still 
in controversy. In 1855 the bridge was built, and it cost 
Needham $1812.37, of which amount $1500 were paid to 
Ephraim Parker for constructing the abutment walls, and 
the balance to A. K. Howe for the bridge itself. 

The bridge has been extensively repaired at different 
times, and in 1886 the freshet damaged it, and Needham and 
Dover together expended about $300 in consequence. In 
1900 it was again an expense to the town. It is a wooden 
bridge supported on piles, the ends of the bridge resting on 
stone piers. Pierce Bridge is perhaps near the site of "Stick 
Bridge", a small bridge existing as early as 1782. The town 
records in 1851 contain a description of the proposed road 
from the Gay-Reynolds place toward South Natick, and it 
is therein stated that the road is to end "near Indian dam". 

The road was built by Capt. William Pierce in 1859, and 
for many years was called Pierce Road. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 123 

PRATT'S BRIDGE,: WASHINGTON STREET, LOWER FALLS 

On the map of 1771 a bridge Is called Capt. Pratt's Bridge, 
and for many years our town records gave it that name, or 
simply Pratt's Bridge. Josiah Woodward, Captain Pratt 
and Josiah Upham worked on this bridge 1770-2, and in the 
latter year Pratt and Upham presumably assisted Capt. 
Ephraim Jackson when he rebuilt it, using white oak timber 
at 19s., 4d. per "Tun". Lieut. William Fuller, Jeremiah 
Daniell and Eliphalet Kingsbery replanked the bridge in 
1783 and also in 1784, when a committee from Needham 
appeared before the "Courts' Committee Refpecting the 
County Bridge Near the Lower falls". In 1792 the repairs 
of "pratts Bridge" were considerable, and William Fuller, 
Esq., supplied planks and "Raves". 

In 1809 a special committee of five was chosen to repair 
the bridges, and to determine whether it was necessary 
"to repair or build prats Bridge". Moses Garfield rebuilt 
this bridge in the autumn of 1809. Repairing the "Buttle- 
ment and building a wall" for Pratt's Bridge in 18 18 re- 
sulted in having to pay Silas Wilson $160 for damages. 
Lieutenant Garfield supplied the planks and the labor for the 
bridge itself. He was prominent in town for years, and di- 
rected much of the bridge repairing and road building. In 
1823, or 1824, over $160 were needed for this bridge, includ- 
ing "Stone work". 

In 1839 William Lyon directed the expenditure of nearly 
$300 to repair, or rebuild, either Pratt's Bridge or the Mills 
Bridge which was near his house. In 185 1 upward of $200 
were spent on a bridge at the Lower Falls, presumably 
Pratt's. 

In 1856 the town voted to build "a Stone bridge over 
Curtis's Flume, provided the Town be legally obliged to do 
it, and that Curtis will do what towards it they consider 
just and proper." By the word "they" the selectmen are 
referred to. 



124 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

More than $500 was expended on Pratt's Bridge in 1867, 
and in 1878 the selectmen, in their annual report, called 
attention to the fact that this bridge cost the town from 
$100 to $300 nearly every year, although $3000 had been 
expended in 1873 to rebuild and widen it, according to a 
plan drawn by Daniel Pratt. 

In 188 1 it was a wooden bridge, but there were three 
arches under it, two small ones close to the Needham side, 
and a larger one, not a true arch, but pointed at the key- 
stone, on the Newton side. All these arches were built to 
conduct water to the mills. 

MILLS BRIDGE 

The Mills Bridge was so designated on the map of 1771; 
it connects Walnut Street, Wellesley, with Wales Street, 
Newton. John Slack built "the Bridge Near Hoogs Snuff 
Mill at the Lower falls" in 1792. Work on Pratt's Bridge 
the same year has been referred to, and it is possible that 
Mr. Slack assisted in rebuilding that bridge rather than the 
one near his house. The reference to the snuff-mill favors 
this suggestion. In 1845 Ephraim Parker contracted to 
build a "Stone Arch Bridge" for $323.50, and it was evi- 
dently the Mills Bridge, which has two stone arches. 

In i860 Needham expended $120 on the foot-bridge at 
the Lower Falls, George Spring attending to the work, and 
in 1874 Newton rebuilt this bridge and Needham paid 
$261.36 toward the cost. This foot-bridge is for the conven- 
ience of persons wishing to cross from the mills on the New- 
ton side, or from Washington Street, to the mills in what is 
now Wellesley, and is nearer to the Mills Bridge than to 
Pratt's. 

HIGHLAND AVENUE BRIDGE 

Highland Avenue Bridge, and the road to it from Webster 
Street were built in 1875, and cost Needham about $13,000, 
which was less than the appropriation. Barney Dorety & 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 125 

Son were paid $5275 for building the road, and William 
H. Ward $6000 for Needham's half of the bridge, as per 
contract. It is a fine bridge with three stone arches, and a 
concrete roadway over it. 

THE SMALLER BRIDGES 

In 1784 repairs were made on the "Bridge near M"" David 
Smith's". The next year Moses Fisk relaid with oak planks 
the bridge near Theodore Broad's, The "Bridge by Broad's 
Mills" was repaired by Cyrus Pratt in 1792, and perhaps 
also in 1794, when Daniel Haynes was paid $2.75 for "Cart- 
ing four Logs to M^ Bigelows' mill to make plank", to be 
used on this bridge. In 1799 the "Bridge by Broad's Mills" 
was again repaired. In 1816 Daniel Morse, a successor of 
Theodore Broad, agreed to support "the Westerly Bridge 
below my Mills and keep it good repair so long as I own said 
Mills or improve the same". This bridge is on Central 
Street, near Wood's paint-factory, and the one near David 
Smith's is on Brook Street, over Dewing's Brook. 

BULLARD'S BRIDGE 

Bullard's Bridge is a little bridge over Waban, formerly 
Bullard's, Brook. In 1783-4 the "Bridge Near Cap* Aaron 
Smith's" was replanked. In 1868 nearly $1100 was spent 
to rebuild this bridge, then designated as "the bridge near 
Solomon F. Smith's". 

BROWN'S BRIDGE 

Brown's Bridge is on Grove Street over Dewing's Brook, 
near the residence of the late Charles B. Dana. In October, 
1825, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq., and Thomas 
Kingsbury were chosen a committee to build one half of 
"Browns bridge (so Called)". It does not appear why 
the town was to build but one half, and it is possible that 
this little bridge is not the only one that has been called 



126 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

"Browns". In 1869 this bridge over Dewing's Brook was 
repaired, or reconstructed, at an expense of $500. 

SAWMILL BRIDGE 

Sawmill Bridge is over Rosemary Brook, on Wellesley 
Avenue, and is close to the site of Col. Jonathan Kingsbury's 
sawmill. William Jones repaired the bridge in 1867 or 1868. 

NECK BRIDGE 

Neck Bridge, which is a short distance north of the junction 
of Central Avenue and West Street, is often mentioned. 
In the deed of Benjamin Richardson to the town of half 
an acre of land, for a gravel pit, in 1870, the place is de- 
scribed as two hundred and thirty-four feet "east from the 
centre of Rosemary brook at Neck bridge". 

"SOL" FULLER'S BRIDGE 

"Sol" Fuller's Bridge is on South Street over "Sol. Fuller's 
Brook"; the latter name is still occasionally used by the 
older residents. See "Ponds and Streams". This bridge is 
referred to in the town records in 1822 as the "Bridge near 
the Solomon Fuller old house", and repairs were frequently 
made upon it, as on all the bridges, which required more 
or less attention annually. Subsequent to 1800 special 
committees were from time to time appointed to repair 
the bridges, but they undertook no work of historical 
importance. 

AQUEDUCTS 

The aqueduct through which flows the water brought from 
Lake Cochituate to supply the City of Boston was con- 
structed in 1846-8, and is a noticeable feature in portions 
of Wellesley, particularly at the Lower Falls, where the 
arch is over Cedar Street. The land taken for this conduit 
was taxed by Needham for years after the taking, first on a 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 127 

valuation of $4400, and in 1849 at $5800. In the latter 
year the town agents were directed to settle with the "Boston 
Aqueduct". 

In 1874-6 the Sudbury River conduit was built in both 
East and West Needham, to increase the water resources 
of Boston, and the noted Nine Arch Bridge, a foot-bridge 
in the south part of Wellesley, was then constructed. The 
writer went through a portion of this conduit, including the 
bridge section, when it was in process of building, and was 
attracting many sightseers. 

The General Court in 1876 authorized Newton to take 
lands in Needham to protect its water supply, but the area 
was limited to one thousand yards from the river, and be- 
tween Kendrick's Bridge and the new bridge near Newton 
Upper Falls (Highland Avenue). In 1889 Newton was 
authorized to take an indefinite amount of land in Needham, 
to further protect its water supply, with the result that in 
1890 the assessors of Needham attempted to tax Newton 
for a large territory in the Broad Meadows, with the buildings 
thereon, and two years later Brookline was assessed for 
sixty-two and eight tenths acres at Powell's Island. New- 
ton's seizures amounted to five hundred and ninety-six 
acres, and in 1893 the General Court ended the contro- 
versy on the taxation by a law requiring a city or town 
taking land in another city or town to pay to the latter an- 
nually a sum equal to the current tax on the average as- 
sessed valuation of the land for the three years prior to the 
seizure; there is no provision in reference to buildings. 
Under this Act the City of Boston, and later the Common- 
wealth, has paid Needham each year about $40 on account 
of the thirty-four and one half acres that were taken in 
the seventies for the Sudbury River conduit. Late in 1892 
the town had appointed a committee, consisting of the se- 
lectmen and three other citizens, to petition for such a law, 
as there had been difficulty in collecting these assessments, 
and litigation with Newton in reference to them. 



128 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

ECHO BRIDGE 

Another remarkable stone bridge was completed In 1876, 
at a cost of $200,000. It is across the Charles at the Upper 
Falls. Here the distance is five hundred feet between the 
headlands, one hundred and thirty-two feet between the 
abutments, the bridge is seventy feet high, consists of 
six arches, and consumed two years in building. Mr. Phelps 
of Springfield was the contractor, and no accident occurred 
either to any person or to the machinery. This bridge is 
known as Echo Bridge, and is visited by thousands. It is 
a foot-bridge only, but contains the conduit. 



0lti ifWapg of i^eebfjam noto in tfie 

1. "Map of Needham End (at the time of the survey being 
part of Natick). Samuel Livermore, Surveyor, November 
II, 1724." Vol. 15, p. 20. The statement enclosed in paren- 
theses is incorrect, as this territory was not a part of Natick 
in 1724. This map is a good one, indicating the roads and 
houses. 

2. "Map of a part of Needham, nearly enclosed by Natick, 
showing residences of Stephen Bacon and others, who peti- 
tion to be set off to Natick: November 28, 1724." Vol. 34, 
p. I. 

3. "Plan of part of Needham (enclosed by Natick), whose 
inhabitants desire to be set off to Natick." Surveyed Sep- 
tember, 1730. Vol. 7, p. 9. 

4. "Plan of Needham, showing residences and names of 
inhabitants (Probably later than 1771.)" Vol. 14, p. 12. 

5. "Plan of Needham, showing Natick Pond and Charles 
River." "Barachias Mason, Surveyor, 1771." Vol. 14, 
p. 12. This is a valuable and interesting plan; it gives the 
names of the inhabitants, locating their residences; also 
names of the bridges. 

6. "Map of the Parish of Natick, including what was for- 
merly a part of Needham; showing roads and residences of 
whites and Indians. Samuel Livermore, Surveyor" August 
I, 1749. Vol. 33, p. 17. See also Vol. 5, p. 26. 

The descriptions are from the State catalogue, not from 
the maps themselves, which the writer has, however, care- 
fully examined. 



I30 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Map 2 shows that in 1724 there were only six families in 
Needham Leg, viz., those of Stephen Bacon, Samuel 
Morse, Timothy Bacon, John Underwood, John Goodenow 
and Thomas Frost. Map 5 shows that the little bridge over 
Waban Brook was called Bullard's Bridge in 1771. Fisher's 
Mill was where the Waban Mills now are. Captain Pratt's 
Bridge and Mills Bridge were at the Lower Falls. Fisher's, 
Day's and Cook's Bridges are named, and what is now Lyon's 
Bridge was then "New Bridge". Maps 4 and 5 are practi- 
cally the same. 

There is a curious little sketch, made in 1791, of the Charles 
River through Dedham, Needham and Newton, with an 
almost poetic description of the damage to the meadows from 
flowage for which the proprietors of Eliot's Mills were 
responsible. The complainant dwells upon the natural 
charms of this region, injured by what he considers un- 
necessary flowage. (House files 3922; also maps.) The 
map of 1794 was the result of an Act of the General Court, 
June 26, and was made by "Jonathan Kingsbery Ju^ Sur- 
veyor", on a scale of two hundred rods to the inch. It 
shows the meeting-houses and factories, but not the dwellings. 
From the "Shire town to the Center of said town is six 
miles" "The Reputed distance from y^ Metropolis to y« 
Center of said Town is Fourteen Miles". At the Lower 
Falls was a paper-mill, a sawmill, a grist-mill, a "Trip ham- 
mer Shop" and a fulling-mill. The "Pond called Broads 
Pond" was estimated at thirty acres; "The part of the 
Pond called Cochituate Pond that lies in Needham Contains 
Six Acres and half" "The part of Bullards Pond so Called 
that lies in Needham Contains Seven Acres & half". "The 
Brook that runs into and out of Broads Pond so called was 
not an actual Survey". There was a sawmill and a grist- 
mill east of Broad's Pond, and another grist-mill, west of the 
pond, apparently on Hawes Brook. Kingsbery's own saw- 
mill (Wellesley Avenue) is indicated, as is a sawmill on what 
is now Nehoiden Street. There was then a bridge, a paper- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 131 

mill and a grist-mill at Charles River Village. Archives, 
Maps, Vol. 15, p. 14. 

On April 5, 1830, the town appointed Asa Kingsbury, 
William Flagg and Rufus Mills "to procure a map of the 
town of Needham, agreeable to a refolve passed in the Gen- 
eral Court the last winter Seffion", and in May, 1833, 
although a similar article had been dismissed the year 
before, voted to give a copy to each family in town. The 
fine map of Needham made in 183 1 by Dea. Asa Kingsbury, 
son of Col. Jonathan, who prepared that of 1794, was pub- 
lished in 1836, and gives the location of each dwelling-house 
with the name of the owner, as well as indicating the public 
buildings, factories, etc. Dr. Josiah Noyes, who had ample 
opportunity to be familiar with all the region, assisted in 
the survey by means of an arrangement which recorded the 
number of revolutions of a wheel of his chaise on particular 
roads. In March, 1836, William B. Annin was paid $110 
for engraving six hundred copies of this map, but the pre- 
vious May Dr. Noyes, Dea. Asa Kingsbury and Mr. Kim- 
ball had been chosen a committee to procure one thousand, 
in order that there might be some to sell, after each family 
had received one map.^ 

Another excellent map, that of 1856, furnishes similar 
information to that of 183 1, and the town paid "H. F. 
Walling, for 420 plain Maps, and 180 colored and mounted" 
$399. Each family in town was presented with a plain 
map, but there was a charge of fifty cents for a colored one, 
which brought over $80 into the town treasury. The only 
streets named on the map of 1856 are Washington, High, 
Forest, Seaver and Lovewell Road, the latter now Cottage 
Street. The hill over which Florence Avenue now runs was 
designated as Florence Grove. 

Later maps of the town, and atlases including Needham, 

^ It does not appear that Dea. Kingsbury was paid more than $32 for his original 
survey in 183 1, but a year later the committee chosen in 1830 had an order for 
$28 for services. 



132 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

are familiar to the present generation, and are not of special 
Interest. The division of the town In 1881 led to the cir- 
culation of maps showing the old parish lines. 



PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES 

The perambulation of the line with Dedham has already 
been referred to. From 1714 to the present time "Peram- 
bulations" are recorded in the town books, and a few facts 
and Items may be of interest. Some of the early committees 
appointed by the different towns to "Run y^ line" and "Re- 
new the Marks" were paid only two shillings per day for 
each man. "Jonathan Smith & Iserul Mills were Chosen a 
Commlty to Run y« line Brtwixt Needham & Weston ^ 
nov™ 19, 1723 & performed sd work on y^ Second munday 
of Jane" next & brought y^ Return & the time Set to glue 
Weston Notice again Will be upon April in y year 1726". 
The same Needham men ran this line in 1726, and Mills 
was paid five shillings for his work In 1723 and 1726, and 
Smith three shillings. Later four or five shillings per day 
was the compensation for the special services of town offi- 
cers. In 1794 Needham paid Ephraim Jackson twelve 
shillings for a dinner for Its selectmen and those of Newton 
"that afsisted In Surveying the line". Until recent years 
our selectmen not Infrequently had a dinner at the town's 
charge, but the toddy disappeared from the bill many years 
ago. By the law of 1734 a town was liable to a fine of £15, 
one third to the informer, and the balance to the poor of the 
delinquent town, if the boundaries were not perambulated 
every three years. The law requires such perambulation 
at the present time, and the writer recalls perambulating 
the line between Needham and Wellesley on a November 
day in 1896, an occasion when, with failing light, certain 



^ The Town of Weston has not only printed its "Vital Records" in the best 
manner — that is, verbatim — but also its town proceedings, records of perambula- 
tions, early tax lists, etc., thus furnishing a model for other towns to imitate. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 133 

zealous officials were mired in cold water, while the more 
luxurious remained on the Pierce Bridge. 

PLANS OF THE TOWN REFERRED TO IN ITS RECORD 

On May 24, 1769, Michael Metcalf and Capt. Lemuel 
Pratt were chosen "To take a Copy of the Plann of the Town 
of Needham which is Now in the Propriators Clark's office 
at Dedham", and the committee was authorized to "Chufe 
a Surveyor to afsist them". On March 11, 1771, Messrs. 
Metcalf, Pratt and Isaac Underwood were chosen to take a 
plan of the town, which resulted in the 1771 map, previously 
referred to. Barachiah Mason was granted £3 in 1772 
"for Surveying and Planning the Town". The members 
of the committee were paid for seven and one half days at 
three shillings per day. In September, 1794, the town 
directed its selectmen to "take the Care of planing the Town 
agreable to a Refolve of the General Court" "in the Best 
and Cheapest manner they can". Col. Jonathan Kings- 
bury made the survey and drew "a Plan to lodge in the 
Secretary's office", where it may be seen to-day. Enoch 
Parker and Epes Mansfield assisted the Colonel at fifty 
cents per day; they presumably carried the chain. 

In 1866 new stone bounds were placed on the Weston 
line, which had been surveyed, and a plan was drawn by 
Robert Mansfield, who for many years did surveying for 
the town. During Mr. Mansfield's latter years, John Mor- 
ton Harris, Frank L. Fuller, Emery Grover, Esq., and 
Ephraim Wilson were also employed as surveyors or civil 
engineers; subsequent to 188 1 Charles Atherton Hicks was 
a civil engineer occasionally in the service of the town. Mr. 
Harris was much younger than Mr. Mansfield, but may be 
regarded rather as his contemporary than as his successor, 
as he did important work for the town before the Civil 
War, and, in all, for over thirty years. 

Mr. Harris died in 1884, aged sixty-five years, and Mr. 
Mansfield in 1890, aged eighty-seven years. In 1908 the 



134 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

boundary monuments on Blossom Street, Needham and 
Weston, and on Washington Street, Needham and Natick, 
remained unchanged, although the town of Wellesley was 
twenty-seven years old. 

PROPRIETORS OF MEADOW LANDS 

By Act of the General Court, approved March lo, 1797, 
twenty-two men and one woman, Hannah Fuller of Dedham, 
were incorporated "Proprietors of Meadow Lands Lying on 
Charles River within the Towns of Newton, Dedham, & 
Needham for the purpose of Drawing off the Stagnant 
Waters, and for the better Improving the Same". Of these 
proprietors William and Ebenezer Mcintosh, Amos and 
Moses Fuller, Michael Harris and John Slack were of 
Needham. 



iBlti Hocal i^ameg, ^onbg anb Streams! 

In the Dedham records the Great Plain is mentioned as 
early as 1636, Broad Meadow and Rosemary Meadow in 
1648, North Hill in 1660, Powell's Island in 1676, Wolf 
Pit Hill in 1669 and The Wolf Pit in 1698/9. 

Apparently Wolf Pit Hill is between South Street and the 
river, perhaps one of the hills not far from the barn on the 
Kingsbury-Stedman-Ingols place; Wolf Pit Meadow is re- 
ferred to in the old deeds. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker 
stated in 1902 that there was a wolf pit just north of South 
Street, near the old road that ran from South Street to 
Mark Tree Road. 

Pine Swamp Neck was a name used in 1737, and probably 
earlier. The writer has two old plans inscribed "Wid*^ 
Mary Lyons lot in Pilferfhire in Needham Eaft of y® way 
Divided Nov. 22. 1765", "Plan of 31*. 0.37 of land in Pil- 
ferfhire at Needham Sold by Thomas & Pelatiah Lyon To 
W™ Mackentofh & Sam. Daggett and Divided between 'em 
as within — 1766". "This Prick^ line of Divifion was 
made Ap^ 10. 1766. 

Jofiah Newell 

Ep' Jackson 

Jn° Jones 

This land belonged to Thomas Aldridge prior to 1700, 
and later to his only daughter, Mary, wife of Josiah Lyon, 
and included the territory between the locality popularly 
known as Dog Corner and Mark Tree Road. The first- 
mentioned plan was of the estate on the westerly side of 



136 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Central Avenue, and the second plan of the land on the 
easterly side; the latter section was owned in 1765 by David, 
Daniel, Rachel and Hannah Lyon, heirs of Mary. 

Apparently Birch Plain was the western portion of the 
Great Plain extending toward the present Wellesley line, 
and Pine Plain was in West Needham, including the region 
since known as Unionville. Ridge Hill, now covered with a 
growth largely chestnut, and but little pine, was sometimes 
called "Pine Hill" a century ago. Bullard's Hill is between 
Wellesley College and Blossom Street, and takes its name 
from the Bullard family, who lived on the estate now form- 
ing a part of the college grounds. Dug Hill is a portion of 
Central Avenue, a short distance east of Pine Street. Bird's 
Hill takes its name from John Bird, a former owner, who was 
a soldier in the Revolution. 

In the inventory of William Eaton of Dedham, 1726, a 
tract of land, on which he had a house, is described as 
bounded on "the old road leading from Ebenezer Wares to 
a place called the Neckfield towards the south". 

HIGH ROCK 

The noted High Rock, which appears on the town seal, 
is referred to in the Dedham records under date of April 
20, 1649, when "M"' John Allen Pastor and Eleazer Lusher 
giue notice of thier discouery of a mine of mettall or other 
minerall whervnto they lay clayme to them thier hiers 
executors or assignes for euer by vertue of the order of the 
Town in that case pvided w"^ lyeth betwixt Charles Riuer 
towards the south and the high Roche neer the Great 
Playne towards the north, and in or neer about a smale 
stoney valley being encompased on the south . north and 
west sids with Rochey hills the east end of the sd valley 
opening towards a stoney brooke therby notice heere of 
giuen to the men whose names ar subscribed being of the 
select men Joh: K Kingsbery Joshua Fisher". Under 
date of May i, 1649, the town clerk recorded "Lieft Joshua 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 137 

Fisher and Sergeant Danlell Fisher glue notice of thier 
expectation of a Mine of Mettall clayming the benefit of 
the Town order to them and thier hiers. Lying on the north 
side of Charles Riuer and on the west side of a brooke that 
runnes, in to said Riuer ouer against the Farme late m' 
Cookes, and on the south side of the great Playne". For 
years the settlers of Dedham hoped to find valuable miner- 
als in their township, and appear to have been repeatedly 
disappointed. This supposed mine "ouer against m"" 
Cookes Farme" Is noted In the Dedham records in March, 
1647. 

Prior to February 18, 1834, Richard Richardson of West 
Cambridge became the owner of High Rock, but the deeds 
recorded In Norfolk and Suffolk Counties furnish, appar- 
ently, no clue as to how he obtained it. His wife, Mehit- 
able Smith, whom he married in Needham, November 6, 
1777, may have acquired It by Inheritance, but it does not 
appear who her parents were. She died in West Cambridge 
October 30, 1808, aged fifty-two years, and it Is a coincidence 
that David Smith of Needham, whose will was dated 1803 
and probated in 1808, had a daughter Mehitable, born Octo- 
ber 23, 1756, but she became Mrs. Whiting, and died before 
her father, the settlement of whose estate reveals no trace 
of his owning High Rock. Richard Richardson had twelve 
children, his daughters Mehitable and Abigail marrying, in 
succession, Edward Smith of Arlington. According to Dr. 
Noyes's diary High Rock was sold at auction on November 
30, 1835, ^^d the records show that Edward Smith of West 
Cambridge, as executor of Richard Richardson, late of 
Ashby, deeded, on December 4, his interest In fifteen acres 
of land In Needham to Daniel Kimball for $247. High 
Rock was on this land, and as long as the Rev. Mr. Kimball 
had the academy the Rock was a favorite resort of his pupils. 
In 1859 Mr. Kimball sold the land to Sherman Bowers, 
and the latter conveyed It in 1872 to Frederic N. Woodward 
and Robert Turner, both of Newton. In 1877 Mrs. Henri- 



138 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

etta Williams became the owner of over one hundred acres 
of woodland in Needham, which included the Rock, and 
since her death in 1890, or 1891, this property has belonged 
to her heirs, one of whom is the Honorable George Frederick 
Williams. Mrs. Williams got the land by the foreclosure 
of a mortgage, and, although taxed to her from 1877, the 
title was not perfected till November, 1884. High Rock 
is on the seventeen-acre lot, formerly called fifteen acres 
more or less, now known as the Kimball Lot. The Rock 
is referred to as a landmark in deeds prior to 1750, as well 
as in those of later date. 

Bullard's Pond, now Lake Waban, is called Cunningham's 
Pond on an early map. Lake Waban contains one hundred 
and nineteen acres, and is connected with Charles River 
by Bullard's Brook, now better known as Waban Brook, 
and with Morse's Pond, formerly Broad's Pond, by Natick 
Brook. Morse's Pond is a beautiful sheet of water, west of 
the tracks of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company. 
At one time it included thirty-eight acres, but now only 
about twenty. West of Morse's Pond is a small pond, some- 
times called PIckerell Pond on old maps, and a century ago 
there was a mill there. Jennings Pond is south of the Turn- 
pike, and since 1797 in Natick. The lakes on the Ridge 
Hill Farms were formed at great expense by William Emer- 
son Baker, who came to Needham in the late sixties, and for 
twenty years had a famous show place of upward of eight 
hundred acres, where many valuable animals were to be 
seen, including fine specimens of the American Bison. Mr. 
Baker had grottoes, subterranean tunnels, curious trick 
floors and mirrors, and other amusing features. He enter- 
tained in 1875 the Fifth Maryland Regiment for two days, 
or longer, and expended large sums of money on similar 
occasions, usually making the dedication of a pig-pen, or a 
bear's funeral, the nominal object of costly hospitality. 
The Maryland troops came to Boston to take part in the 
Centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1888 Mr. 



I 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 139 

Baker built a large hotel on his estate, and named it Hotel 
Wellesley, although it was in Needham, his purpose being 
that others might enjoy the Ridge Hill Farms. This hotel 
was burned December 19, 1891, having been but little used 
for several years. 

One of the artificial lakes on this estate is extensive, and 
required the labor of a large force of men, eighty It Is said, 
and many teams and carts for nearly two years. 

Longfellow's Pond, not the pool In the college grounds, and 
the Reservoir Pond are "artificial" In their origin. In 
recent years the former has been nearly dry much of the 
time. The Rosemary Pond Is largely the result of exca- 
vation, and the erection of a dam by Lemuel Lyon, which 
took place within the memory of people now living.^ The 
Blacksmith's Pond was formerly but a brook, referred to In 
old deeds, and was created by the construction of dams, as 
was the little pond north of Nehoiden Street, and next to 
the hinge-factory. 

South of Bacon Street, near Oak Street, in what was Need- 
ham Leg, there was once a sufficient stream to run a grist- 
mill, which was patronized by persons living as far away as 
Sudbury. Natick Brook Is mentioned in connection with 
the industries. Dewlng's Brook runs from Wellesley Hills 
in a southwesterly direction, passing under Wellesley Avenue, 
Brook, Grove and Dover Streets, and unites with Bullard's 
Brook, both joining the Charles River near the Nine Arch 
Bridge. In recent years the course of Dewlng's Brook has 
been somewhat changed between Wellesley Avenue and 
Brook Street In consequence of parkway construction. 
Noyes's Brook Is named for the minister, and is an attract- 
ive feature of the beautiful park, which Includes the town 



^ Extensive improvements were made in the vicinity of Rosemary Pond in 
1907-9, and in the latter year William Carter placed four swans on the pond, 
enclosing perhaps half an acre of water with a wire fence, and anchoring a swan- 
house some distance from the shore. In 1909 a motor boat, the property of 
Mr. Carter, was for the first time seen on this pond. In 191 1 wild geese and 
other water fowl are with the swans. 



I40 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

hall and library, all given to the Town of Wellesley by 
Mr. Horatio H. Hunnewell. 

Strife Meadow Brook runs between the Mackintosh 
farm and Ridge Hill, and in Wellesley is known as Fuller's 
Brook. Strife Meadow Brook and Birch Meadow are re- 
ferred to in the Needham records as early as 17 14. In the 
will of David Smith, 1803, is a reference to "Nashfield 
brook". 

Rosemary Brook runs from the pond of that name through 
the Rosemary Meadow to Longfellow's Pond, which latter 
was once merely a part of the brook. "Rofemerry medow 
Plane" is mentioned in 1789. Mill Brook is referred to in 
deeds of the eighteenth century. 

"Sol Fuller's Brook" flows through the farm once owned 
by Solomon Fuller, a soldier of the Revolution, and later 
by Capt. John Harris, John M. Harris, and Samuel Sutton 
and family, and finally empties into the Charles River near 
the Dedham Avenue Bridge. Hubbard's Well was a noted 
spring, and was near the place on Greendale Avenue where 
William H. Sullivan lived in 1900. 



©ibisiiong of tfje ^oton anb Cfjanges 
in pounbariesi 

ANNEXATION OF THE WEST END, OR NEEDHAM LEG, TO 

NATICK 

On November ii, 1724, Stephen Bacon, John Under- 
wood, Thomas Frost, Samuel Morse, John Goodenow and 
Timothy Bacon addressed a petition to the Honorable 
William Dummer, Lieutenant-Governor and Acting Gov- 
ernor, to the Council and House, reciting that they were "all 
Settled Inhabitants upon a Tract of land purchased of Ded- 
ham men runing up in a long & narrow form", and stating 
that their land was "Within the ancient Bounds of Natick 
Plantation Since Accounted to belong to Needham". They 
desired to be annexed to Natick, as they were near the 
meeting-house there, and seven miles from the one at Need- 
ham. They said that some of them attended meeting in 
Sudbury or Sherborn until the Rev. Mr. Peabody came to 
Natick, and preached within two miles of their homes. 
The Town of Needham had ignored their complaints. The 
six petitioners were all of the heads of families then dwelling 
in The Leg, where there were only six houses. See Archives, 
Vol. II, p. 408. These men were ordered to serve notice on 
Needham for the 27th Instant, and they were answered by 
Timothy Kingsbery, John Fisher and Robert Cook, select- 
men of Needham, under date of November 26, 1724. The 
remonstrance contains a resume of the history of the town, 
and states that by reason of the poorness of the Soil" the 
resources of the people were very limited, although aided 



142 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

by Dedham and Newton friends "(who 'tis certain, have 
been very kind & helpful both to our Minister & to us)". 
After Mr. Peabody came to Natick the dwellers in the 
Springfield Parish of Dedham went to Natick to Church, 
and in Newton the meeting-house had been removed to a 
place convenient to those who formerly attended the ser- 
vices in Needham. This remonstrance was handsomely 
written by Mr. Townsend, and called attention to the fact 
that the Church at Natick was amply provided for, while 
"much of our Land wild, poor, unsubdu'd, & but little 
profitable" "our Township (which at the biggest is not 
accounted to be above 5 miles Square including the Tract 
which our Westerly Petitioners now possess) is not ours as 
it is in other places: much of it belongs to Proprietors in 
Dedham, which lies wild & unprofitable and is of no service 
to us" "we have been visited of late years with sicknesses 
& mortality whereby nine or ten of the Principale men of 
the Town have been remov'd". As to the objection of the 
petitioners to being taxed, the selectmen stated that there 
was no reason why they should not be. Archives, Vol. 11, 
p. 409. 

The same petitioners repeated their attempt to get set 
off five years later, but with less encouragement than In 
1724, when the House had been favorable to them. Accord- 
ing to a plan made In 1724 there were then thirteen buildings 
in Needham Leg, but In 1749 there were only nine houses, 
and apparently two of those were Indian habitations. 
The controversy In 1729 Is referred to In the town records, 
and Captain Cook, Joslah Kingsbery and Andrew Dewing 
were granted £1 each for services on the committee "for 
Entring the Reasons at the Generall Court why the West 
Corner of the Town Might Not be Lay- to Natick". 

On May 17, 1732, the town refused to free Stephen Ba- 
con, John Underwood, Samuel Morse, Timothy Bacon and 
John Goodenow from the Minister's rates, but the previous 
September had excused seven families living west of Natick 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 143 

Brook from paying their share of a £40 rate for fencing a 
portion of the Ministerial Land. 

A petition of John Goodenow and others, dated March 
31, 1743, was presented to Governor Shirley, the Council 
and House, and was read in both Houses April 8, read again, 
together with the answer of Needham, and dismissed on 
June 3. General Court Records, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 38 and 
280 and Archives, Vol. 12, p. 266. 

The original petition, which is in the Archives, Vol. 12, 
p. 264, is endorsed on the back by eighteen of the Natick 
Indians, who favored the annexation of the people on the 
"Westerly Side of Saw-Mill Brook". There is also a sup- 
porting petition signed by John Loker and sixteen other 
white men, including Ebenezer Felch, Joseph Mills, Henry 
Bacon, John Coolidge, Robert Jennison, Jonathan and 
Daniel Dewing, Ephraim and Stephen Jennings. They 
denied that there was a scheme to remove the meeting- 
house from the Indians, and fourteen of the latter also 
signed this petition, but on May 26 some of them had 
changed their minds, as on that date twenty-iive Indians, 
including some who had signed the Loker petition, besought 
the General Court not to annex the estates of John Goode- 
now and the others to Natick. This last Indian petition 
was supplemented by one signed by Daniel Morse and 
seven other white citizens of Natick and dated June i. 
See Archives, Vol. 12, pp. 267-269. The protest of the 
people of Needham, adopted in town meeting May 16 and 
dated June 3, contains interesting statements, viz., — 

The petitioners were one tenth of the men of Needham, and 
better men than they lived further from the meeting-house, 
and attended the services regularly. Mr. Peabody had the 
benefit of the "publick Reveneue Given to Gospelize the 
Indians", and besides also owned one nineteenth of the 
whole town of Natick, while Mr. Townsend was compara- 
tively poor. The objections to granting the petition were 
concisely stated, in language dignified but sarcastic, and were 



144 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

grouped under four headings, the substance of which was: 
Goodenow and the others were not obliged to go to Church 
in Natick, or to pay anything if they did go there. The 
people of Needham paid Mr. Townsend in addition to their 
other taxes, and if the petitioners would only do likewise 
at Natick "by Way of Liberallity and Gratittude" "we 
beleve and are of the opinion that it would Give Good 
Satisfaction to m'' peabody and to the Inhabitants of 
Natick". Other matters were touched upon, and this 
answer was signed by Robert Cook, Samuel Parker and 
Robert Fuller as a committee on behalf of Needham. The 
document was neatly written by Mr. Fuller. Archives, 
Vol. 12, p. 270. 

Another petition asking for annexation to Natick was 
presented, and notwithstanding the adverse action of June 
3, 1743, a bill passed the Council and Hojse and was signed 
by Governor Shirley February 25, 1743/4. The signers were 
the same as in 1724, with the exception of Morse, and with 
the addition of Edward Ward and Moses Fisk. 

The following is from the town records: On May 16, 1743, 
the town voted not to grant the prayer of the Westerly 
Inhabitants for annexation to Natick, and chose Nathaniel 
Bullard, Capt. John Fisher, Captain Cook, Robert Fuller 
and Samuel Parker a committee to show the General Court 
why the petitioners "Should not be set off to Natick". 
Early the next year this committee, with the exception of 
Fisher, were granted £1, 7s., lod, each for attending to their 
duties as remonstrants, and Mr. Fuller's account included a 
charge for "Drawing of Resons". 

RESTORATION OF THE LEG TO NEEDHAM IN 1761 

On April 19, 1759, the petition of John Coolidge and others, 
calling themselves "a Committee of the Parifh of Natick", 
was before the General Court, asking for a committee to 
run the line between their land and Needham, alleging that 
the Act of 1743 had been ignored by the selectmen of Need- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 145 

ham whenever they perambulated the line, and that the 
Needham assessors taxed land that was in Natick. An 
answer was received from the selectmen of Needham, after 
due notice had been served on them. 

On June 13 William Brattle, Esq., was named on behalf of 
the Council to act with Colonels Clap and Marcy of the 
House, and "to repair to the Lands mentioned". Colonel 
Marcy replaced Colonel Partridge, who had been named a 
member of this committee on June 7, and on November 10 
Woodbridge Brown, Esq., was appointed in the room of 
Moses Marcy, Esq., then absent. The whole matter was 
dismissed by the General Court. See its Records, Vol. 22, 
p. 609, and Vol. 23, pp. 14, 42 and 122. 

On March 29, 1760, a petition of Amos Fuller and others, 
selectmen of Needham, in favor of restoring The Leg to 
that town was before the General Court, and after due 
notice, no answer coming from the territory concerned, the 
Council voted in favor of the restoration, but the bill failed 
in the House on January 29, 1761. The House then ordered 
a second notice served on the inhabitants of The Leg, with 
the concurrence of the Council. 

On June 23, 1761, the committee reported to the General 
Court that when this territory was annexed to Natick In 
1743, "Needham then being against parting with them, 
and Natick against receiving them" the General Court had 
been deceived as to the motives of the petitioners, who then 
claimed that they desired to be nearer to a meeting-house 
In their own town, when as a fact thay did not go to meeting 
in Natick, but their intent was "that of removing the 
meeting house very far from the Indians and nearer to them- 
selves". The committee further stated "that the Peace 
of Natick makes it necefsary that they return to Needham 
again". There had been much trouble, and the "English", 
as the Indians called them, would not pay anything toward 
building the meeting-house or for the minister's salary. 
Archives, Vol. 24, p. 62. 



146 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

This report in favor of restoring The Leg to Needham 
was signed by the well-known Benjamin Lincoln, and on 
June 23, 1 76 1, the Council adopted the report, and the next 
day the House concurred. 

Thus for the peace of Natick, rather than for that of 
Needham, a group of men became citizens of the latter town, 
and were to keep up a continual fight for years. Again 
and again they forced the calling of a town meeting in order 
to act on articles that had been repeatedly voted down, and 
which they had no prospect of carrying. Lieut. Timothy 
Bacon appears to have been as active among them as any one. 

In Vol. 14, pp. 223 and 225, State Archives, are some 
documents classed as Ecclesiastical, which relate to this con- 
troversy, but other original papers for 1759-61 seem to be 
missing, perhaps used and lost in later years, when the same 
issues were before the General Court. Most of the docu- 
ments relating to a division of the town appear to have been 
consulted from time to time till 1881, and were worn nearly 
to fragments. 

The town records contain the following information in 
reference to the restoration of The Leg to Needham : 

In March, 1760, Lemuel Pratt was granted £2, 8s., "for 
money paid to the General Court Commity upon Natick 
Line and for Coppys from Records", and the same month 
the town voted to petition the General Court "that that 
part of Needham that was annexed to Natick Should be 
sett to Needham again". In May, 1761, Ephraim Bullard, 
the inn-keeper, had an order from the selectmen for £1, 
I2S., 6|d. "for the Cost of the House for Entertaining 
the Courts Committy Sent up in the year 1759 And for the 
Entertainment of the Select men of Needham when met 
the S^ Committy to Settle the Line Between Needham and 
Natick: And for Cash Paid for a Copy of Needham Peti- 
tion". There were the charges for several warnings out of 
town, and recording the same, included In Mr. Bullard's 
bill, and the expense of entertainment was certainly moderate. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 147 

In January, 1762, Lieut. Amos Fuller was granted £1, 
13s., 2d. "for his Paying the GenU Courts Committy in the 
affair of Natick and Needham The time they met at Wil- 
liam Morses Inholder in Natick", and Mr. BuUard was 
allowed 19s., io|d. for paying Mr. Morse in 1761 on ac- 
count of the General Court's Committee and the selectmen 
of Needham, also eight shillings "for his Tending at the 
Gen" Court upon account of the westerly Part of the Town 
Being Set Back to Needham again". It appears that 
Lemuel Pratt had paid eight shillings "for Two Petitions 
or answers in the affair of Natick and Needham". 

On March 14, 1763, the town chose a committee consist- 
ing of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and Jonathan Dewing to answer 
the petition of Stephen and John Bacon, "now in y« Court 
or any other that Shall here after be Sent in by any of y* 
west End with Respect to there being Set back to Natick"; 
some one moved to substitute the selectmen for the com- 
mittee named, but the motion was voted down. The mem- 
bers of this committee were granted the sum of six shillings 
each for their services. 

On May 18 the town was opposed to the request of 
Lieut. Timothy Bacon and others for annexation "with 
there Lands lying westerly of the Brook by y^ wids Wards: 
and Jeremiah Gays Land, to Natick", and at the an- 
nual meeting in 1765 took similar action, and refused 
to free the petitioners from their share of the Minister's 
rates. 

In May of that year the town was still opposed to the re- 
annexation to Natick of the inhabitants west of "Wards 
Brook", but in February, 1767, voted not to oppose the 
petition of Isaac Underwood and others. Three months 
later. May 21, the town declined to excuse the inhabitants 
in The Leg from the Minister's rates, or to consent to their 
restoration to Natick. 

On March 18, 1768, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Lieut. Jona- 
than Day, Michael Metcalf, Ensign John Bacon and Wil- 



148 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Ham Smith were chosen a committee "to View the Lines as 
far as it Concerns Needham Exprest in a Plan Presented to 
the Town Relating to Li* Timothy Bacon and Others Being 
Incorporated into a Distinct precinct; with part of the 
adjacint Towns; and make Report at may Meeting". It 
was on their report that the town voted, May 18, to make 
no opposition. Early in 1769 Michael Metcalf and Capt. 
Eleazer Kingsbery were granted two shillings each "for 
Viewing and Runing the line Projected for a Precinct by 
the west part of the Town". 

In 1768 Lieut. Timothy Bacon had his Minister's rates 
abated for 1767, and there was a general abatement of these 
taxes for the current year as far as the inhabitants west of 
Ward's Brook were concerned. Later demands for similar 
abatements were refused. 

On July II, 1774, th^ town voted to exempt "the west 
End and pine Plain as far as is Mentioned in said petition'* 
from all charges for building the meeting-house in the place 
selected. Abatements of the Minister's rates were granted 
to Captain Farris and others subsequent to 1780, and these 
taxes were a source of annual controversy. 

The restoration of The Leg to Needham did not discourage 
further attempts to divide the town, and on June 7, 1768, 
a petition was before the General Court signed by certain 
inhabitants of Needham, Natick, Sudbury and Weston 
asking "to be erected into a distinct and separate District" 
"they having already obtained the Consent of Needham & 
Natick for this purpose". 

The petitioners were ordered to notify the towns of Sud- 
bury and Weston to appear on the "second Wednesday of 
the next sitting of this Court" to show cause "why the prayer 
should not be granted". General Court Records, Archives, 
Vol. 27, p. 320. 

This petition, addressed to Governor Francis "Barnard", 
the Council and House, describes the remoteness of the 
petitioners from a meeting-house, alleges the need of one 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 149 

in their midst, and refers to a plan of the proposed district, 
which plan was made by John Jones, Esq., January 30, 
1768. The petitioners asked for a committee to view the 
land. The only signer from Needham was Capt. William 
Paris, a staunch Episcopalian, but he doubtless represented 
others who were Orthodox, as did John Felch, the only 
signer for Natick.^ Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 521, 523. 

There is a petition in the State Archives, Vol. 118, pp. 796- 
807, addressed to Governor Hutchinson, the Council and 
House, and dated February 22, 1774, which recites the old 
grievance of their being seven miles from the Needham 
meeting-house, and states that by the annexation of their 
lands to Natick the shape of that town would be improved. 
They proposed to join to Natick the territory "lying Wefterly 
of a place in Needham commonly known & Called by the 
name of Pond-hole". The petition also mentions Ward's 
Mill and "a tree commonly known & Called by the Name, 

^ "This is to Certifie that William Farris Esq is a Member of Chrlft Church in 
Cambridge and a Communicant; and that his Rate is duly paid to Said Church. 
Wittnss our hands at Cambridge this 8'!' day of april 1763. 

Eaft Apthorp Minister 

John Vassall Church Wardens" 

The foregoing certificate is recorded in the town records, and Captain Farris was 
relieved of his share of the Minister's rates for 1762 by vote of the town. Capt. 
Farris appears to have been an Englishman, or possibly an Irishman, who had 
been a captain-lieutenant in Shirley's Regiment in 1745, and had also seen service 
in 1749 and 1759. Retired as a half-pay officer he lived for a time in West Cam- 
bridge, but it is said that his domestic arrangements did not meet the approval of 
his neighbors there, and that consequently In 1761 he bought of Joseph Underwood 
a farm of seventy acres, with house, barn and outbuildings. In this deed the grantee 
is described as "William Faris of Cambridge" "Gentleman". See Suffolk Deeds 
Lib. 97, fol. 82. The Captain passed the rest of his life quietly on this farm, for 
"The Leg" was then a secluded place, although the Natick Committee of Inspec- 
tion is said to have annoyed him more or less during the War of the Revolution. 
He was a citizen of Needham, and if the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection 
and Safety of his own town let him alone it does not appear why he should have 
been troubled by Natick officials. If the tradition is correct that he did not hesi- 
tate to say that the "Patriots" were all traitors, he certainly got off very well. 
His surname is Faris on his gravestone at North Natick. The house in which he 
lived is on Walnut Street, and in 1908 was the residence of Henry Rose. Capt, 
Farris was a Justice of the Peace, and an undated assessor's "Invoice", probably 
later than the War of the Revolution, shows that he was one of three persons in 
Needham who were taxed for money at interest, and that of the two negro slaves 
in town he owned one and William Bowdoin, Esq., the other. 



I50 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Station tree, being a corner between Needham Natick & 
Wefton". 

Signed by 

Isaac Underwood 

John Bacon 

Mofes Fisk 

Joshua Fisk 

Stephen Bacon 

Aaron Moulton 

John Bacon Jun"^ 

Joseph Bacon 

Joseph Drury 

The reply was dated March 5, and signed by Samuel Welles 
and thirty-five others, citizens of Natick. It is long and 
sarcastic, and includes the greater part of the Legislative 
committee's report for 1761; also calls attention to a similar 
attempt seven years before, and asserts that "the said 
Isaac and Only Nine others" represent no one but them- 
selves, and that twenty-nine families affected by the peti- 
tion are unrepresented by the signers "for the twenty nine 
that are silent have no doubt as great an Aversion, to their 
being Taxed at Needham (or anywhere Elfe) as the said 
Isaac & nine others".^ 

The petitioners "are no further from their Centre than they 
were when they Purchased their Lands", and their annexa- 
tion would have "the most fatal Consequences to Natick — 
having heretofore been greatly Afflicted and Perplexed, by 
those discontented, uneasy & unhappy Neighbours, who 
were Connected with us from 1745, to June 19, 1761. at 
which time they were in Mercy to themselves & us. Set 
back to Needham". 

The remonstrance further recites what a curse these men 
had been to the Natick Church, and asserts that they do 

^ There appear to be but eight names attached to the petition in addition to 
Isaac's. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 151 

not attend any Church, "but of Choice the most of them 
Uphold, Encourage &; Countenance a Separate Meeting, 
Constantly on Lords days and Employ a Lay=man one 
Child of Watertown to Exhibit to them in Needham, at a 
greater Distance from the said Isaac and the other nine 
then it is to Natick Meeting house." "That by far the 
greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Weft of Needham, 
included in the Proposed Line, are of the Number of those 
that have Lay Teachers to Admiration — And fome of 
them have already Taken the Benefit of the Law relating 
to Baptists". 

The Court is further reminded that "the County Line 
would be Altered" if the prayer is granted, and warned that 
the Natick petitioners in favor of this annexation "are of 
the stamp with those Described in the West of Needham." 
A petition of Ephraim Jennings and thirty-two other citi- 
zens of Natick in behalf of Underwood follows on page 
805. 

On February 23 the House appointed March 9 for a hear- 
ing, if the General Court was then sitting, otherwise the first 
Thursday of the next session, and on the 24th the Council 
concurred. On June 8, the petition and the answer of Sam- 
uel Welles was again read in the Council, and George Leon- 
ard and Jeremiah Preble, Esqrs., were chosen a committee 
to consider the matter jointly with members of the House, 
which named Capt. Brov/n, Col. Whitcomb and Mr. Free- 
man. On the 9th the Council accepted the report of this 
committee that the petition should be dismissed, but the 
next day the House nonconcurred, and deferred consider- 
ation of the subject to the 21st, if the General Court was 
then in session, otherwise to the third Wednesday of the 
next session, which postponement was concurred in by the 
Council the same day. 

There was no immediate result of these petitions, and the 
annexation desired by Underwood and his neighbors was 
not to be realized till June 22, 1797, although the town 



152 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

voted to grant separation on May 23, 1776, but reconsidered 
on June 4. 

On March 7, 1793, the town by a vote of 52 yeas to 79 nays 
refused "to with Draw their petition now in the General 
Court Refpecting Setting off part of the Town of Needham 
to the Town of Natick", and on May 13, declined to' send 
a committee "to attend petition in the General Court re- 
fpecting forming Needham and Natick into two Towns". 

THE TOWN DIVIDED IN 1797 

Controversies as to the meeting-house, and it might be said 
as to all town affairs, made the time ripe for another effort 
to divide the town, and when Marshall Spring and twenty- 
five others, including Mehitable Loker and Martha Dewing, 
petitioned the General Court in 1797 to annex their estates 
to Natick, there was no serious opposition from Needham, 
although the matter was fully discussed at town meetings 
in February and May.^ The inhabitants of the West Pre- 
cinct had brought forward their scheme of having the pre- 
cinct made a separate town, but had been voted down at 
the latter meeting, and then appointed William Fuller, 
Esq., Enoch Parker and David Smith, Jr., their agents to 
oppose the annexation of The Leg to Natick, which they 
did vigorously, alleging: That the West Precinct was 
entitled to notice as if it was a town; that less than one 
half of the petitioners were inhabitants of Needham; that 
the East Parish and The Leg were in league against the 
West Precinct, or Parish, where there was "constant preach- 
ing on Sundays In their Meeting House". 

In February, 1797, a remonstrance signed by William Fuller 
and sixty-five others of the West Parish was received by the 

^ In March, 1790, Natick had voted to "allow the Inhabitants of Needham 
to come in ", and in 1793 Sherburn, and in 1797 the District of Dover, had 
passed similar votes. In May, 1796, eleven residents of Natick had asked 
the " west Perrifti " if they would receive them, and in June there was an affirma- 
tive answer, although a committee was appointed to protect the interests of 
the Parish. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 153 

General Court. This document had been signed by three 
persons whose names appeared on the Spring petition, and 
alleged fraud when the vote favorable to the wishes of the 
petitioners had been passed In the Needham town meeting 
"Although a woman not an Inhabitant and perfons not 
voters were permitted to vote and Counted with the fup- 
pofed and pretended majority". 

The General Court granted the request of the West Parish 
for a committee to view the territory which it was proposed 
to annex to Natick, but the bill passed, and became law on 
June 22, 1797. Families represented by thirty-six men, 
living southwest of Bullard's Brook were annexed to Need- 
ham, and Natick acquired The Leg, the exchange being not 
unfavorable to Needham, although it lost 1656 acres and 
gained only 404I acres and Bullard's Pond. This exten- 
sion of the town of Needham for three quarters of a mile 
along Washington Street brought a welcome addition of 
valuable estates, and substantial citizens whose names will 
be found in Chapter 22 of the Acts of 1797. 

Nearly all of the Hunnewell estate is in this section, and the 
Church in the West Precinct gained Dr. Morrill and the 
others who then dwelt on the land now owned by the Hun- 
newell family. Prior to 1797 the geographical centre of the 
West Parish was a point in the middle of the road, Centre 
Street, between Morse's and Bullard's Ponds ; later it was 
near where the meeting-house stood. 

Liability for all town and parish grants already voted was 
maintained In the bill of 1797, and the next January the 
General Court decreed that the inhabitants transferred by 
the Act of 1797 should continue, apparently Indefinitely, 
to pay their State and County taxes to the town from which 
they had been separated. The dispute about taxes in 1793 
between the East and West Parishes had left the people 
Irritated, and those In the West rarely neglected an oppor- 
tunity to refer to It. 

The Precinct of Dover instructed its selectmen on January 



154 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

8, 1801, to petition the General Court to change the boun- 
dary in order that certain inhabitants who lived three miles 
from the Dover meeting-house, and were within one mile, 
more or less, of the meeting-house in the West Precinct of 
Needham, might have their estates annexed to Needham. 
This petition was presented, but referred to the next Gen- 
eral Court. 

THE WEST PRECINCT PETITIONS TO BE MADE A TOWN 

The year 1801 is memorable as witnessing the first of the 
many attempts of West Needham to be a town, distinct from 
East Needham, and which culminated in the incorporation 
of Wellesley in 1881. In May, 1801, the Town of Needham 
by Colonel Kingsbery, its agent, and the First Parish, repre- 
sented by five of its members, protested against granting a 
petition which David Smith, Jr., had presented to the 
General Court asking that the West Precinct with parts of 
Natick and Dover should be incorporated as a town or dis- 
trict. Mr. Smith's petition is not now on file. In February, 
1802, the First Parish again protested against the proposed 
new town, and informed the General Court that there were 
but 226 rateable polls in Needham, that seventeen had 
joined the West Precinct from Natick, for ecclesiastical 
purposes, and that with its many bridges, each district 
recently supplied with a "Convenient Schoolhouse", a 
loss of more territory would render Needham too poor to 
send a representative to the General Court; this was signed 
by Silas Alden, Jonathan Gay, John Tolman and Amos 
Fuller, Jr., on behalf of the First Parish. The Town of 
Natick also remonstrated against the scheme for another 
town. At this period several plans were proposed to the 
West Parish by the East Parish, with a view to union and 
reconciliation, but without result. Smith's petition was 
referred to the next General Court. See Senate files 2880, 
I and 2, 2881, 1-3. 

On June Q, 1802, the West Precinct petitioned to be made a 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 155 

town together with part of Natick, Including those of the 
latter town who had "signed" to Dover for Church privileges. 
The substance of this petition was: 

1. Natick persecuted those who had signed to the West 

Precinct. 

2. They were In two towns, and a minority In each; also In 

two Counties. 

3. Their militia had been weakened by the annexation of 

The Leg to Natick and by other causes. 

4. Their minister wa^ denied his right to perform the 

marriage ceremony. 

This petition was referred to the next General Court. 

Under date of June i, 1803, a well written and able protest 
on behalf of Natick was signed by William Fariss and Wil- 
liam Goodenow, the petition of the West Precinct again 
being before the General Court. As this remonstrance con- 
tains facts of historical value the substance Is given briefly: 

1. Needham claimed to have acquired but 404I acres 

from Natick In 1797, ignoring 148 acres of water, but 
counting an equal area of water gained by Natick as if it 
were land, thus making a total of 1656 acres. 

2. Needham Leg never belonged to the West Parish, but 

always to the East. 

3. "We do not conceive that the respectability of a Militia 

consists wholly In numbers". 

There Is also an undated statement of valuations, In sub- 
stance as follows: 

The East Parish has 126 polls, 83 dwelling-houses, real 
estate by tax bills $742.02 

The West Precinct and others have 121 polls, 85 dwelling- 
houses, real estate by tax bills $742.02 

The rest of Natick has 131 polls, 86 dwelling-houses, real 
estate by tax bills $690.94 

"Valuation of the Needham Leg set to Natick as by 
Needham Valuations" $160.78 



156 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Polls in the Needham Leg set to Natick 27, dwelling- 
houses 19. 

Proposed to be joined from Natick to the West Precinct, 
Natick valuation, $162.47 

Polls from Natick 24, dwelling-houses 22 

Value of the Needham Leg by Natick valuation $111.91 
"The afsefsors of Natick lowered the Leg about one quarter 
in their valuation". 

There are also two undated protests on behalf of the Town 
of Needham signed by John Tolman, and these documents 
deny the alleged hostility of the East Parish to the West, 
and call attention to the following facts: 

Two, and often three, of the five selectmen, as well as the 
town clerk, are of the West Precinct, where one third of the 
annual town meetings are held, although the East Meeting- 
house is more central. The West Precinct, according to 
these papers, has taken unfair advantage of the omission 
of the words "heirs & asfigns" from the Act of 1778, for 
the persons affected have contributed towards building the 
meeting-house, and have "erected Chaise houses". 

THE CONTROVERSY AS TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE 

ACT OF 1778 

As this difficulty had much to do with the attempts 
to divide the town, an explanation of it is offered here, 
although it is to some extent a digression from the main 
topic. 

The question was raised by the officers of the West Pre- 
cinct in 1793, and was contested eight years, and when set- 
tled left much hard feeling. When the West Precinct was 
created in 1778 the Act allowed persons resident on the 
west side of the line to retain their connection with the "old 
parifh" by filing in the office of the Secretary of State, 
within twelve months, a declaration of their desire to do so, 
and a similar privilege was granted those living on the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 157 

east side, but preferring the new West Precinct. This proved 
to be largely in favor of the "old parifh", and in 1793 it 
was discovered that the declarations, which people claimed 
to have filed with the Secretary of State, were missing, and 
that the Act did not contain the words "heirs & afsigns". 
In the West it was asserted that the privilege of choosing 
between the parishes was personal, did not attach to estates, 
was never intended to be perpetual, and that it was imma- 
terial that the right had not been resigned. The West Par- 
ish then proceeded to tax the heirs and assigns of persons 
who had preferred the East Parish, but were on the west 
side of the line, and the East Parish voted money to resist, 
and offered the General Court a list of 1793, which Michael 
Metcalf and others successfully petitioned the Court to 
accept, and to give it the force of an original record. On a 
petition of Benjamin Slack and others, dated June 9, 1800, 
the questions were re-opened, and the Supreme Judicial 
Court decided in favor of the West Precinct. This decision 
did not prove to be final as the Standing Committee on 
Parishes of the General Court voted in February, 1801, by 
a majority of one, to allow those opposed to the settlement 
made by the Supreme Court to bring in a bill. 

In opposition the West Precinct was represented by Major 
Hezekiah Broad, David Smith, Jr., Nathaniel Bullard, Lieut. 
Daniel Ware and Lieut. Nathan Dewing, who informed 
the General Court that their delay in settling a minister 
was due to the "Revolution with Great Britton", and to 
the depreciation of the currency, and asserted that the East 
Parish was hostile, and had induced men to sign over to it 
by offering twelve or fifteen years exemption from taxes. 
They expressed indignation at the attempts made in 1793 
to obtain a new Act including the words "heirs and assigns". 

This document was signed by Messrs. Smith, Bullard and 
Ware, and their opposition to the bill defeated it, but from 
time to time there were petitions to the General Court asking 
that one or more estates might be transferred to one parish 



158 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

or the other; usually the petitioners had "leave to with- 
draw". See Senate files 2419, 1-4, 2715, 1-6, 3026, 1-7, 

3779, I- 

The family of Col. Jonathan Kingsbery was much involved 

in this controversy, as its members wished to belong to the 

East Parish, and their home, which was where the Wellesley 

Country Club is now, was but a short distance from the 

line on the west side. 

PROTESTS AGAINST DIVISION OF THE TOWN RESUMED 

To return to the Tolman protests: 

They declare that far from it being true, as alleged by the 
petitioners in behalf of the West Precinct, that those of 
that Precinct had eight times been obliged to defend their 
rights, the facts were that eight times the East Parish had 
been compelled to resist their "Aggrefsions". These Tol- 
man documents call attention to the fact that Needham 
has a new school-house in each district, emphasizes the 
often repeated statement that Needham Leg was never at 
any time a part of the West Precinct, and states that another 
division would make Needham a very small town. 

The whole matter continued to be referred to the "next 
General Court" until 1805, when the petitioners had leave 
to withdraw. Senate files 3327, 1-15. 

At the May meeting in 1804 an article in the town warrant 
in favor of a new town to be formed of parts of Needham 
and Natick was dismissed, and the same month George 
Fisher, Samuel Pratt and Captain Tolman, agents for the 
Town of Needham in reference to the question of division, 
were to meet at Luther Dana's.^ 

On September 22, 1817, at a town meeting held in the East 
meeting-house it was voted to "have the west Parish In- 
corporated into a new town or District", but this vote was 
reconsidered on October 27, and a committee consisting of 

1 Early in the last century Luther Dana, and later his heirs, were taxed for land 
in Needham formerly owned by Sir Peter Warren. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 159 

eleven was named, viz., Capt. Elisha Lyon, Major Mcintosh, 
George Fisher, Capts. Artemas Newell and Jonathan Gay 
for the East, Daniel Ware, Esq., Maj. Chester Adams, 
Peter Lyon, Capts. George Smith and Jonathan Fuller 
for the West; they were to select a non-resident as the 
eleventh man, but do not appear to have done so. 

As Captain Lyon was a Justice of the Peace and "Squire 
Ware" a military officer the array of talent on either side 
appears to have been exactly equal. They reported unani- 
mously In favor of division at an adjourned meeting at two 
o'clock on November 24, and It was a friendly and equitable 
report. The East was to have the School Land In Dover to 
offset the excess of bridges to be maintained, and the "Am- 
munitions In the Town magazine — Camp Utensils", and 
other town property, was to be sold at auction and the 
proceeds divided; the "present Parish line" was to be the 
dividing line. 

As the result of a petition dated January 12, 1818, and 
signed by Daniel Ware, George Smith and Chester Adams 
"Agents for the Inhabitants of the Westerly part of Need- 
ham", a committee of the General Court viewed the pro- 
posed line, and approved of It, but the East Parish protested 
against the division of the town, and was represented by 
Dr. Samuel Gould, Enoch Fuller and Lemuel Kingsbury. 
The three last named denied that the town was nine miles 
long, and asserted that It was but seven and a half, and its 
breadth, north and south, four and one half miles. As to 
the Inconvenience to the people of West Needham in at- 
tending town meetings, one third were held there, and then 
certain inhabitants of the East had to travel fully six miles; 
moreover the East Meeting-house was within half a mile of 
the line. They further call attention to the following facts: 
The West had the representative at least half of the time, 
always two or three of the five selectmen, the town treas- 
urer for twenty-five years, and in 1818 all of the selectmen, 
as well as the town clerk and treasurer. 



i6o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The statement that the East "Is freely consenting" is un- 
true, as there are not more than six persons, perhaps only 
four, in that section who favor division, and in the West 
there are people opposed to it. 

"There factories cheifly consist of two paper mills" one of 
them more than twenty-five years old, and in a decade, 
1 800-10, the population of the town had increased but 
twenty-five. 

"it seems to be their design, in a sense, to trepan the Legis- 
lature", as this attempt to divide Needham is preliminary 
to a demand for a part of Natick. The petitioners suggested 
no name for the proposed town, and, although the situation 
seemed to favor them, they received leave to withdraw in 
February, 1818. 

The whole matter was gone through again in 18 19, Peter 
Lyon, Jonathan Fuller and David Smith then representing 
the West, and Dr. Gould, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, and Calvin 
Gay the East; the three last named called attention to the 
fact that the residents of the West Precinct had to cross 
the East Parish to reach the Shire town. The General 
Court appointed a committee to view the territory at the 
expense of the West Precinct, and the subject was referred 
from one General Court to another until February, 1822, 
when after five successive years of controversy the peti- 
tioners had leave to withdraw. Senate files 6862, 1-13. 

There is a reference under date of June 11, 1821, to a peti- 
tion of Seth Lyon and others, which may indicate a secon- 
dary petition not now on file. Early in 1824 the West Pre- 
cinct, by its agents Benjamin Slack and Jonathan Fuller, 
again petitioned the General Court for division, and Jona- 
than Ellis, Israel Whitney, Jonathan Gay, Jr., Artemas 
Newell and Ebenezer M'=Intosh, representing the East 
Parish, protested that the "main roads from Dedham to 
Worcester" were not "crofs roads", nor impassable at 
seasons, but that the reverse was true. 

They asserted that the boundary between the parishes did 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM i6i 

intersect many "Settlements", and denied the statement of 
the West "that the Inhabitants of the east Parish have 
at times been overbearing and pursued measures disrespect- 
ful to the West Precinct". 

In twenty-one years the West had elected sixty-five select- 
men and the East but forty, and the town clerk and the 
town treasurer have been of the West twenty-four years, as 
against eighteen years when these officials resided in the 
East Parish. The protest reminds the General Court what 
the real dimensions of the town are, and of the fact that 
the East Parish has more bridges and a larger number of 
poor to maintain than the West Precinct. Leave to with- 
draw was given the petitioners on February 13, 1824. Senate 
files 7145, 1-4. 

In April, 1823, the town had voted against division ^6 to 
45, but on May 23, 1825, the vote was in favor of it, as was 
a report signed by Elisha Lyon, Esq., Benjamin Slack, Esq., 
Amraphel Smith, Capt. Jonathan Fuller, George Fisher, 
Colonel Rice, Lieut. Curtis M'^Intosh, Aaron Smith, Esq., and 
Capt. Reuel Ware. The tenth member of this committee 
was Artemas Newell, Esq., but he did not sign the report. 

In 1834 Gen. Rice, Benjamin Fuller, Dr. Noyes, William 
B. Parker, the Rev. Mr. Kimball and Royal M<=Intosh were 
a committee "respecting Changing the name of said town", 
but it does not appear what name was proposed or what 
this committee recommended; the matter was disnjissed 
on November loth. 

In 1852 there was another agitation for the separation of 
the West from the East, and for the fifteenth time, beginning 
with 1 801, a petition for such division was before the Great 
and General Court. 

General Rice and Emery Fiske, Esq., were prominent in 
this movement, and, at the March meeting, the latter pro- 
posed: 

1st. To "sell the town Farm and the personal property 
thereon and pay all debts". 2d. The West to yield all 



i62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

claims to the School Land in Dover. 3d, The West to pay 
the East $1000 per year for five years, provided the oppo- 
sition to the division ceased. 

All of these suggestions were adopted on March 8, by 155 
yeas to 118 nays, but the General Court was adverse. The 
name then suggested for the new town was Oakland. 

In 1859 was issued the printed report of a committee ap- 
pointed to propose terms of division. It contains a val- 
uable account of the condition of the town at that time, and 
its tone is amicable, and its recommendations just. The 
committee had been named on November 8, 1859, and con- 
sisted of three from each side: — Artemas Newell, Lauren 
Kingsbury and Galen Orr for the East, and William Flagg, 
John W. Shaw and George K. Daniell for the West. They 
reported to the town on December 6, and on the 27th 
their report was adopted by a vote of 74 to 48, but the 
General Court did not grant division. 

THE TOWN OF WELLESLEY INCORPORATED, AND THE SEVEN- 
TEENTH ATTEMPT AT DIVISION SUCCEEDS 

The Civil War engrossed the attention of the citizens, and 
the time was not favorable to divisions, but in 1880 plans 
were carefully and quietly matured in the West, and, after 
an apparent slumber of twenty years, although constantly 
in the minds of those most interested, the issue of the divi- 
sion of the town was revived. The division was contested 
before the General Court, and the residents of East Need- 
ham held meetings, appealed to friends throughout the 
State to assist them by influence, and secured the Honorable 
Charles R. Train to appear for them at the Legislative 
hearings. The petitioners had retained the Honorable 
Josiah G. Abbott, a resident of Wellesley Hills, then 
Grantville, and also the Honorable Patrick A. Collins. 

On April 6, 1881, the Town of Wellesley was created, and 
Needham lost more than half of its population, a still greater 
proportion of the valuation, and about four ninths of its 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 163 

area. The line between the old town and the new one 
corresponds with the ancient Parish lines, with the excep- 
tion of slight deviations in favor of Wellesley at both ends. 
Needham received about $30,000 from Wellesley, and was 
freed from the town debts, but the town hall and the town 
farm were acquired by Wellesley. 

The history of the later efforts to divide the town, which 
were successful, has been prepared by Capt. Joseph E. 
Fiske, who had a prominent part in effecting the division, 
and whose father, Emery Fiske, Esq., had been a leader in 
a similar movement nearly thirty years before. The first 
board of selectmen of the Town of Wellesley consisted of 
Lyman K. Putney, John W. Shaw and Walter Hunnewell. 
Mr. Putney and Mr. Shaw were both leaders in dividing 
the town, and the latter was active in the campaign with 
the same object in 1859. 

TURTLE ISLAND TAKEN FROM NEEDHAM 

On June 21, 1803, Turtle Island in the Charles and one- 
quarter of a mile "below the upper Falls so called in said 
River, being the same Island, upon which the Newton Iron 
Works Company have erected their Manufactury", was 
taken from Needham and annexed to Newton. See Acts 
of 1803, Chapter 32. This island is shown on the map of 
1794, and is a short distance west of Cook's Bridge. The 
town at its May meeting had appointed Lieut. Jonathan 
Gay, Capt. John Tolman and Samuel Pratt to answer the 
petition of Rufus Ellis, the agent of the Newton Iron Works, 
and also that of Daniel Ware and others, who were seeking 
to divide the town. 



JBM^ion of ti)t Count? of Suffolk 

The prejudice against "the Boston Clique" seems to 
have flourished long ago, as on October 3, 1726, the town 
voted to "have the County divided from Bofton", and on 
March I, 173 1/2, chose Captain Cook a committee as to a 

New County diftinct from Bofton". In 1735 and again in 
1738 Needham favored the division, Boston to be a separate 
county or district. 

On March 10, 1760, the town voted to "join with the Reft 
of the Country towns in this County in Petitioning the 
General Court for a Division of the County", and on Decem- 
ber 26, 1775, chose Colonel Mcintosh to sign the petition for 
it. Ten years later the sentiment of Needham was un- 
changed, and it was voted "that y" Selectmen Should be 
the Committee to Conduct the Affair of Dividing the 
County of Suffolk", but in 1786 the petitioners had leave 
from the General Court "to withdraw". On May 8, 1788, 
Robert Fuller, Jr., and Colonel "Mackintafh" were chosen a 
committee to advocate a new county with Dedham as the 
Shire town. In October, 1790, the town clerk was directed 
to sign a petition for division, and on May 8, 1792, Amos 
Fuller and William Fuller, Esq., were selected to further it. 
In September, 1793, Capt. Josiah Newell and Amos Fuller 
were appointed by the town "to meet a Convention of the 
County at Gays Tavern in Dedham" on "Thirsday" the 
1 2th instant to consider "matters as Refpects Setting of 
a part of the County of Norfolk to the County Suffolk". 
The division so long petitioned for had then been made. A 
convention of the towns in the new County of Norfolk was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 165 

held at Henry Vose's in Milton on May 15, 1794, and 
Colonel Kingsbery represented Needham. 

On March 15, 1898, Needham voted to Instruct its repre- 
sentative in the General Court "to oppose In every legiti- 
mate way, the scheme known as a greater Boston county, 
or any other legislation which shall tend to dismember 
Norfolk county or disrupt Its time honored institutions". 

CONVENTIONS 

On September 20, 1768, Lieut. Amos Fuller and Joslah 
Newell, Esq., were chosen "to act for them as a Committee 
in Convention with Such as are Chofen in Boston: and Such 
as may be Sent to join them: From the Several towns In 
this Province". This convention was "To Confult what 
meafures were beft for the good of the Province". Mr. 
Newell was paid sixteen shillings for his services as a 
delegate. 

On July 4, 1774, the town voted that £1, 9s., 3d. "Should 
be paid to the Honiii^ Thomas Cufhing Efq": Out of the fine 
that the General Court have Remitted to Needham for 
their Not Sending a Reprefentitive In the year 1773. It 
Being Needham's Proportion of Five Hundred Pounds to 
pay a Committee that the Court have Chofen to Sett in a 
Congrefs in One of the Neighbouring Governments". 

On August 31 the town chose Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Jonathan Deming, Samuel Daggett 
and Capt. Caleb Kingsbery "To attend a County Conven- 
tion at the Houfe of M^. Woodward Inholder in Dedham 
on Tuefday the Sixth Day of September Next at Ten 
O'clock before Noon, To Deliberate and Determine Upon 
all matters as the Diftrefsed Circumftances of this Province 
May Require". On September 30 Capt. Eleazer Kings- 
bery was chosen representative and delegate to the Pro- 
vincial Congress, which was to meet at Concord the second 
Tuesday in October. It assembled at Salem October 7, and 
that day adjourned to Concord. 



1 66 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The notice, dated December lo, 1774, from the Provin- 
cial Congress at Concord to the towns to choose delegates 
to meet at Cambridge on the first day of February, or 
sooner if necessary, is recorded in our town records, and on 
January 26, 1775, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was chosen 
delegate, to whom in August £14, 19s., 8d. were granted 
for attending the County Convention and the Provincial 
Congress. 

On May 29, 1775, Colonel M'^Intosh was elected delegate 
to the Third Provincial Congress to be held at the meeting- 
house in Watertown, and that day £18, 2s., 8d. were voted 
"To pay the Committee that Met with County Congrefs: 
and to pay Cap? Eleazar Kingsbery for his Attending at 
the Provincial Congrefs'es". 

The Third Provincial Congress met on May 31, 1775. On 
October 29, 1776, the town by vote approved the "Council 
and Houfe of Representatives, to act as One Joynt Body 
in forming a New Conftitution of Government", and a 
year later Colonel M'^Intosh was granted £5, 13s., 4d. for 
twenty-five days attendance at the "Provincial Congrefs 
in 1775", and 6s., 8d. "for a Copy of the Order of Court 
for Impowering the Town to Chufe a Constable". The 
delegates to the various Congresses and Conventions were 
usually paid in currency of fluctuating value. 

On May 26, 1777, the town instructed its representative 
that "by Reafon of the prefent war Still Raging [we] are of 
the Oppinion that the Honourable Council and Houfe of 
Reprefentatives Should poftpone Coming into a New form 
of Government at prefent". On October 19, 1779, Colonel 
M'^Intosh was chosen to "Represent the Town in a Con- 
vention to be held at Cambridge on the Twenty Eighth 
Day of October Inftant Relating to a form of Government"; 
he attended twenty-eight days in Cambridge and Boston in 
1779 and 1780, and received as compensation £336 in 
greatly depreciated currency. 

At an adjourned town meeting held in the West Church on 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 167 

June 10, 1778, a draft for a Form of Government, sub- 
mitted by the General Court, had been rejected, after 
consideration by a committee consisting of Capt. Eleazer 
Kingsbery, Josiah Eaton, Michael Metcalf, Josiah Newell, 
Esq., and Capt. Aaron Smith; the vote was fifty-six to 
two. 

Similar action was taken on May 24, 1779, and on August 
2 of that year Capt. Robert Smith had been elected dele- 
gate to a Convention to be held at Cambridge with refer- 
ence to deciding on a Form of Government, but he did not 
attend. The same day, August 2, 1779, Colonel M'^Intosh 
and Robert Fuller, Jr., were selected as delegates to a 
convention which was to be held at Concord on the first 
Wednesday of October for the purpose of fixing the price 
of merchandise. 

Needham's local committee "to State the articles of 
marchandize and Cuntry Produce &c", grew out of this 
convention, and consisted of Josiah Newell, Esq., Dea. 
John Fisher, John Slack, Ebenezer Newell, Capt. Aaron 
Smith, Lieut. William Fuller and Timothy Newell, and on 
August 16 the town voted that "Grain Should be Stated 
Two Shillings in a bufhel Lower then it was Stated by 
the Convention at Concord", otherwise the report of 
the local committee, approving the action at Concord, was 
accepted. 

On September 20 the town acted "upon a Circular letter 
Sign'd by Coif Benjamin Hammond Chairman of Com- 
mittee of the Several towns Relative to Bofton Market 
Act", by choosing Robert Fuller, Jr., and John Slack "to 
meet with the Committees of the Neighbouring Towns at 
maj°^ Eben? Whitting's". 

On March 15, 1787, the town chose Capt. Aaron Smith 
and Robert Fuller, Jr., "to Meet with y« Delagates from 
other Towns in y" County of Suffolk at Timothy Gay's 
Inholder in Dedham on y^ laft wednefday of march 1787". 
On December 10, 1787, Colonel M'^Intosh was chosen the dele- 



i68 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

gate to the convention In the State House for "Confidering 
and acting on the Propofed Fedrial Conftitution". 



THE STATE CONSTITUTION 

On May i8, 1780, the Rev. Samuel West, Nathaniel Fisher, 
Michael Metcalf, Capt. Aaron Smith, Josiah Newell, Esq., 
Samuel Daggett, Jonathan Smith, Robert Fuller, Jr., and 
Moses Fisk were chosen "to Confider the Conftitution of 
Government, and make Report to the Town at the Adjourn- 
ment of this Meeting"; on the 29th the meeting was again 
adjourned, this time to June 6 at 4 o'clock P.M. The record 
of the original meeting, May 18, reads "Then at a Meeting 
of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Said Town 
of Needham, That are Twenty One years of age and Qualli- 
fied as the New Conftitution Directs: For the Bifmefs Here- 
after Mentioned".^ 

The able report of the committee was signed by all its 
members except Messrs. West, Aaron Smith and Daggett. 
It approved the proposed Form of Government in the main, 
but took exception to the Third Article: "we would Men- 
tion in few words the Arguments that Satisfies us as to the 
Impropriety of Said Article, or rather the falfhood of the 
Principle on which it is founded: Religion is a matter with 
Refpect to which all Mankind have an Equal right to Judge 
and act for them felves; But it is Impofsible for Civel Law 
to Intermeddle with it with out Infringing that Right; 
We would alfo remark, that in Our Opinion the Sufpention 
of the writ of Habeas Corpus be Confined to times of War; 
And Limmitted to the Term of Six months: And lastly 
that it be Determined that the Said Form Should be Re- 
vifed at the end of Fifteen years, from the time of its taking 
Place Which Time we Refer to the wifdom of the Honour- 
able Convention"; dated May 18, 1780. 

^ For the first time the town clerk records the name of the moderator as 
M'^Intofli, previously he had spelled the Colonel's surname M'^Intafh. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 169 

The town rejected the Third Article, and accepted the 
others with the following amendments: "that y^ Confti- 
tution of Government Should be Revifed in Seven Years", 
"Every Freeholder Should Vote for Senator, Council, 
Reprefentative", "that y« Town Should Chufe their own 
Juftice within their own Town", "Every Town Should Chufe 
their own Regifter of Deeds in their Own Town," "That 
the Legiflatur Should not have power to augment the Value 
of money as Mentioned in the Conftitution". 

On September 4, 1780, the first State election was held in 
Needham, and the duly qualified electors brought in their 
votes for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and six "Coun- 
cillors and Senators". 

"Hon''}'' John Hancock Efq'" had sixty-two votes for Gov- 
ernor and "Hon''!^ James Bowdoin Efq""" three votes; this 
was a light vote, as on April 2, 1787, Governor Bowdoin 
had six votes and John Hancock one hundred and thirty- 
six. For many years Needham was strongly Jeffersonian, 
and rarely cast Its vote for a successful candidate for any 
State office. The first election of a Representative in Con- 
gress under the Federal Constitution was on December 18, 
1788, when Fisher Ames, Esq., had twenty-six votes and 
the Hon. Samuel Adams two votes. The same day the Hon. 
Jabez Fisher, Esq., and General William Heath, Esq., had 
each thirty votes for "Two Candidates for Electors to Vote 
for President and Vice President for the United States 
agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court of the Common 
Wealth". 

General Washington was the only candidate for President 
in 1788. 

In 1791 repeated ballotings, extending from March to 
August, were necessary before any candidate for "Reglfi:er" 
of Deeds had a majority over all. 

In the days of the Province the County Treasurer was 
elected annually by the people at the annual meetings in 
March, and in 171 5 they were given the privilege of voting 



170 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

for a Registrar of Deeds for a term of five years. The March 
elections of these two County officers continued until the 
law of 1855 fixed the terms of both at three years, and 
changed the election to November. The County treasurers 
had already been chosen for 1855, but the registrars of 
deeds had been elected in March, 1851, for terms of five years, 
and they were legislated out of office the first Wednesday 
in January, 1856. There was usually a light vote polled for 
both treasurer and registrar. 

On November 2, 1792, Needham cast only twenty votes for 
four Representatives In Congress for the Counties of Suffolk, 
Middlesex and Essex, combined, and fourteen votes for 
five Presidential Electors. 

The following January John Slack had an order for six 
shillings "for one Journey to Concord to Carry the Votes 
for Federal Representatives". On May 6, 1795, the town 
was in favor of Revising the Constitution," but in 1820 
was opposed to a Constitutional Convention, having no 
confidence in the dominant party, and refused in August 
by 42 votes to 12 to choose a delegate, although on Octo- 
ber 16, Aaron Smith was elected. On April 9, 1821, Need- 
ham rejected seven of the fourteen amendments proposed, 
viz., the 2d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, loth, and 14th. 

On April i, 1822, Governor Brooks received sixty-six votes 
in Needham, and the Hon. William Eustis one hundred and 
seventeen, and for the three Senators for Norfolk County 
the Jeffersonians cast one hundred and nineteen votes to sixty- 
four. It was not until 183 1 that the election of Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor and Senators was changed from April 
to November. 

For reasons not now apparent Needham was Whig during 
the administration of President Jackson, but Democratic 
from 1838 to 1847, Governor Marcus Morton usually polling 
a decided majority, and In 1840 President Van Buren carried 
the town by 151 to 130, in spite of the tidal wave in favor 
of General Harrison. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 171 

In 1844 the Liberty Party had arisen, and included in its 
ranks Dea. Elisha Lyon and others who had been Democratic 
leaders, with the result that 22 votes were given to the ticket 
headed by James G. Birney, and the Democrats had a plu- 
rality only, the vote being: — Polk 134, Clay 121. 

Later the Know Nothing Party prevailed overwhelmingly, 
but the Republican Party has been dominant from its foun- 
dation, although in years especially favorable to the Demo- 
crats the vote has been comparatively close. At times there 
has been independent voting for County officials and for 
representative in the General Court, Richard Cunningham 
of Wellesley having carried Needham for the latter office 
within a few years. 

In April, 1840, the town voted 66 to i in favor of a pro- 
posed Constitutional Amendment relative to the apportion- 
ment of Senators and Representatives in the General Court. 

Emery Fiske, Esq., was the delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention of 1853. 

On November 14, 1853, Needham rejected one of eight 
proposed Amendments: — the 3d by 118 votes to 113, and 
accepted the 5th and 8th by 117 to 116. All of the others 
were lost by a tie vote of 117 to 117. 

The six Amendments voted on in 1855, three in 1857, and 
two in i860 excited but little interest in Needham, and were 
all accepted by the town except the first one proposed in 
1855, which was to allow a plurality to elect; this was 
defeated by 16 to 10. The following November the town 
cast 283 votes. 

Later Amendments to the State Constitution have failed 
to bring out a large vote in Needham, but it is worthy of 
notice that on April 22, 1889, there were 188 votes in favor 
of a Prohibitory Amendment and 162 against it. 

For more than thirty years, with an occasional exception 
in the seventies and eighties, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker 
was chosen annually at the Republican caucus a delegate 
to the State Convention, and after he attained the age of 



172 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

ninety years his presence attracted considerable attention, 
particularly In 1907 when he was in his ninety-fourth year. 
On more than one occasion there was a contest, and the 
convention was In session till late, but In no case did Mr. 
Tucker go home until the business was completed. 



(©ualificationg of looters: 

The following is the substance of a controversy as to the 
right to vote in 1750: 

"after a long Difpute the Following order was Given 
Needham March y« 12: 1749/50. We the Subfcribers 
felectmen of the Town of Needham Orderd John Mills 
Conftable to put to Vote whether it be the Mind of the Town 
to allow all the freeholders to Vote in Town for a Moderator 

Jofiah Newel fnr 
Zecheriah Mills 
Aaron Smith 



Select 
men 



The vote was in the affirmative and John Fisher, "a 
freeholder", was then chosen moderator. Under his ruling 
at this meeting four men, Thomas Fuller, Jr., Jeremiah 
Eaton, Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., and Edward Beverstock 
were allowed to vote, against the protest of Capt. Robert 
Fuller, the town clerk and one of the selectmen, and seven 
others. At the adjourned meeting on the 19th John Wood- 
cock and ten others protested, but without avail. Capt. 
Fuller and twenty-two others then petitioned the General 
Court, March 29, setting forth that none of the four men 
whose votes were questioned were legal voters (assessed on 
£20 in addition to the poll tax), and asking the General 
Court to declare the town meeting illegal. Archives, Vol. 
115, p. 617. This petition was written by Capt. Fuller and 
the petitioners were ordered, April 4, to serve notice on the 
selectmen and the moderator to appear on the nth, if the 
General Court was sitting, otherwise on the first Friday of 
the next session. Under date of April 11, 1750, John Fisher, 



174 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Esq., the moderator, replied in behalf of three of the select- 
men, Josiah Newell, Aaron Smith and Jonathan Smith, 
and himself. He asserted that his ruling was correct, and 
that the assessors for 1749 had erred in valuing real estate 
at only one year's income, when it should have been 
"doubled" six times, and asking for his costs, and that the 
petition of Fuller should be dismissed. Archives, Vol. 115, 
p. 626, 

Captain Fuller had stated in his petition that application 
had already been made to the General Court by "two of 
the offending party", who apparently wanted the doings 
of the annual meeting confirmed. The petition was read in 
the Council on April 13, and in the House on the 17th, 
together with the answer of Fisher, and the assessors were 
ordered to "lay before this Court an Account of the Method 
they took in forming their Valuation Lift". Assessors 
Josiah Newell, Jr., and Eliakim Cook filed a copy of the 
"Single Rate" for 1749, Archives, Vol. 115, pp. 620-622, 
which list is in the Archives, Vol. 115, pp. 614-625, together 
with all the other papers in the case. The papers include 
certified copies of the votes, protests, and three statements 
of citizens, who were present both at the annual meeting 
and at the adjournment. The first is signed by Jonathan 
Gay and Jeremiah Fisher, the second by Nehemiah Mills 
and Jesse Kingsbery, and the third by Robert Fuller, Jr., 
Peter Edes and Josiah Eaton. The three last named 
asked for a declaration as to the law, in order that there 
might be no more disputes, and they asserted that the four 
men were not legal voters. On June 2 the Council appointed 
John Hill, John Quincy and John Joseph Pyncheon, Esqrs., 
and on the 5th the House named Colonel Clap, Mr. Gray, 
Mr. Tappen and Mr. Oliver as a committee to hear the case 
and report. On June 12 the General Court dismissed the 
petition of Capt. Fuller and his sympathizers, and declared 
that the petitioners and the assessors "mistook the Senfe 
of the Law, as to Qualifications of Voters in Town Affairs", 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 175 

and that "the Persons objected to were legally qualified 
& ought to have been admitted to vote", therefore the 
"Proceedings of Said Meeting are hereby confirmed". 
Archives, 115, p. 706. That the assessors had made a mis- 
take is clear from the statute then in force, which provided 
that to qualify a man to vote his real estate valued at the 
amount of the "rents or income thereof for the space of 
six years" must equal £20. This required amount was 
reduced, however, by the deduction of the personal property, 
which was assessed by a different method, and contributed 
to qualify its owner as a voter. 

For a long time the warrants for town meetings recited 
the qualifications required of voters, and they were as 
follows, quoting from the warrant for April 4, 1796, "to 
Notify and warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants 
of said town Quallified by law to Vote in Town meetings 
Viz^ Such as pay to one Single tax besides the Poll or Polls 
a Sum equal to a Single Poll Tax to Meet and afsemble at 
the East Meeting house". The warrant for the Presiden- 
tial election on November 7, dated October 31, 1796, reads 
as follows: "having a freehold estate within said Town of 
the annual income of three pounds or any efiiate to the value 
of Sixty Pounds". Similar qualifications were required of 
voters at the elections of State officers, including the repre- 
sentative, and consequently there were men who could 
vote in town affairs only. The April warrant for the State 
election preceded that for the town meeting, which was often 
on the same paper. In 1821 the amendment to the Consti- 
tution proposed by the Convention of 1820 was ratified 
by the people, and the property qualifications were abol- 
ished, but payment of a poll tax, and residence in the town 
for a year were required qualifications of a voter. In 181 1 
there were 207 men in Needham whose names were on the 
voting list for the State election, and of these twenty- 
three, all of the Ks were Kingsberys, and there were six- 
teen Smiths and thirteen Fullers. In February, 1844, there 



176 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

were 505 voters in Needham, of which number there were 
twenty-six Kingsburys (note the change in the speUing of 
this name), twenty-one Fullers and eleven Smiths, The 
removal of the property qualifications presumably had 
increased the number of voters, and the town had grown 
somewhat in population between 181 1 and 1844. In 1857 
there were 446 legal voters in Needham, in 1865 495, in 1875 
915, in 1885 603 in Needham and 551 in Wellesley, in 1905 
943 in Needham, of which 852 were registered, and 932 in 
Wellesley, of which 853 were registered. In 1910 there were 
930 registered voters in Needham, and 982 in Wellesley. 

The women of Needham promptly availed of the law 
passed in 188 1 permitting them to vote for school committee, 
although the number of names on their voting list was not 
large until the exciting campaign of 1896. The greatest 
number of registered women voters in any one year has 
been 288. In 1882, and again in 1883, an article was in- 
serted in the warrant for the annual town meeting to see 
if the town would favor municipal suffrage for women, but 
the vote was adverse. There were some comical episodes 
connected with the discussion of this serious problem, 
especially in the case of a well-known resident of Charles 
River Village, who worded the opening line of his plea for 
suffrage so unfortunately that he was unable to proceed. 
The vote on the Constitutional Amendment on November 
5, 1889, which was presented to the voters thus: "Is it 
expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women" 
was as follows: Yes, Men, 122, women 62; No, Men 281, 
women 4. 

The first board of Registrars of Voters in Needham was 
appointed on June 27, 1884, and consisted of Cyrus W. Jones, 
Republican, for three years, James S. Hall and Edgar H. 
Bowers, Democrats, for two years and for one year respec- 
tively, and the town clerk, who was ex-officio a member. 
Mr. Jones was chosen chairman, and served as such for 
three years. 



^oton iWectingg 



The annual town meeting has been held in March since 
the incorporation of Needham, and in addition to choosing 
the town officers, the men brought in their votes for County 
treasurer, and continued to do so until 1855 inclusive. In 
1820 Needham neglected to vote for County treasurer at 
the proper time, and concluded that a subsequent meeting 
was too late. On April 22, 1822, the town refused to vote 
for a County treasurer. There was usually an adjournment 
of the annual meeting, unless the business was deferred to 
the May meeting, which was held primarily to choose the 
representative to the General Court. At the May meeting 
after the representative had been chosen, or the town had 
declined to elect one, a moderator was placed in charge of 
the meeting, and business was transacted under the warrant. 
There were many special town meetings, particularly when 
Church affairs required attention. The earliest warrant on 
record is the one for the meeting on June 26, 1719, and it 
was some years later before warrants were regularly recorded. 
The first recorded elections of a moderator are for the meet- 
ings on May 21, 1714, and March 6, 1716, on both of which 
occasions Lieut. Robert Cook was chosen. Lieutenant, later 
Captain Cook, is known to have presided over sixty-seven 
town meetings, and there were fifty-nine other meetings, 
most of them prior to 1725, in the records of which the names 
of the moderators were omitted. 

In 1727/8 the town officers were chosen by a plurality 
vote, as now; previously "a majority over all" had been 
required. The town frequently voted "to Lengthen out the 



178 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Meeting for the space of one Hour", presumably because 
the meeting was supposed to close at sunset. As early as 
1720 "paper Vots" were used. The last appearance of 
Captain Cook as moderator was at the adjourned town 
meeting on March 16, 1746/7. At the annual meeting, a 
week before, he was duly elected "& proclaim^" moderator, 
but got tired, — he was then seventy-seven years old, — 
and declined "ftanding Moderator any Longer faid Day". 
The town however insisted upon re-electing him, where- 
upon he adjourned the meeting to 9 o'clock on the morn- 
ing of Monday, March 16. On July 5, 1759, the con- 
stables were instructed to warn the citizens of the annual 
town meetings by "Notification for the futer". In 1783 it 
was voted "that Notifications Should be Set up at Each 
Meeting Houfe", and the next year "That March April and 
May Meetings Should be warn'd by the Conftables Setting 
up Notifications in Several Publick Places". For years the 
constables made charges for warning town meetings, and 
in 1787 it cost five shillings to warn one half of the town. 
Later it was six shillings, and the methods have changed 
until now it costs nearly fifteen dollars to warn the voters in 
the .territory corresponding to less than one half of the old 
town. In 1823 it was deemed sufficient notice to post an 
attested copy of the warrant, "two Sundays" previous to 
the meeting, "at each Congregational Meeting house in 
said town", but from early times there had also been some 
form of personal warning. The printed copy of the warrant, 
which is now left at every house in the town, apparently 
dates from 1844, when the "overseer of the Alms house" 
was to warn the meetings by "a copy to each farm". For 
"verbaly warning" the West of the April meeting in 1830 
John W. Slack was paid $3. In 1844 and 1845 copies of the 
warrant were required to be posted, at least two Sundays 
before the day of the meeting, in each of the three meeting- 
houses, also at the paper-mill in the South part of the town, 
and at the blacksmiths' shops at both the Lower and the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 179 

Upper Falls. The old practice of issuing two separate war- 
rants addressed to the two constables is confusing, as only 
one of the warrants was recorded. Later it became custom- 
ary to refer in the town records to the unrecorded West, or 
East, warrant, as the case might be. In 1749/50 John Mills 
had an order for £1 as compensation for warning one half of 
the town for the May meeting in 1749, and even then one 
constable seldom warned the whole town. 

In 1854 there were sixty-six town officers, not including the 
committee on the affairs at the almshouse, or the prudential 
school committees, and in 1910 there were eighty-seven, 
omitting the police, ordinary firemen, and numerous em- 
ployees of the town. A number of ex-ofhcio positions held 
by the selectmen are also excluded from the count. 

It was not unusual to adjourn to the evening, or in modern 
times to call a special meeting in the evening, but most of 
the town business until about 1894 was done in the daytime. 
The meetings were called at different hours, often at one 
o'clock, P.M. All of the business, except the election of 
officers, is now deferred to 7.45, or 8 P.M., and it has been 
said that the change was not made in the interest of good 
government. The conditions of a suburban town render 
evening meetings popular and inevitable. The town meet- 
ing of December 10, 1885, was adjourned during the funeral 
of the venerable Joseph Richards, who died December 8, 
aged eighty-seven years and ten months. He was a native 
of Needham, and was a good representative of a type of 
New Englander even then fast disappearing. The funeral 
was in the First Parish Church, which is near the town hall. 
On November 4, 1773, there was no meeting-house to as- 
semble in, and the town met on its site and voted to "Ad- 
journ the meeting to a Valley or Botton in the Pines Near 
where the Meeting was Appointed". On the i8th the town 
voted to adjourn to "Thirfday" December 9, "at the Same 
warming Houfe where the Town Met this Day". On Feb- 
ruary 7, they met again in this "warming Houfe", but at 



i8o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

a meeting held on July 4, 1774, they adjourned to the next 
Monday at two o'clock "To the Dwelling Houfe of Li*. 
WiUiam Mackintalh Innholder". This custom of adjourn- 
ing to taverns grew, and on June 10, 1783, the meeting was 
adjourned "one Quarter of an hour: To meet at the Dwelling 
Houfe of Me Ephraim BuUard Innholder in Needham. To 
meet at Seven of y® clock", which was an unusually late 
hour for a town meeting, even when the days were long. 
When Lieutenant Mackintash had become a Colonel several 
meetings were adjourned to his house. Some meetings were 
held in the West Meeting-house within the memory of per- 
sons now living, although in 1785, 1787 and 1792 the town 
refused to have even one third of the meetings in the West. 
Perhaps the first town meeting held in the West Meeting- 
house was that of June 10, 1778. In 1795 the town voted 
to hold an annual town meeting there, and to "Change by 
Rotation yearly". In 1822 the vote was to hold two thirds 
of the town meetings in the East Meeting-house, including 
"all the ocational or annual Meetings". The Presidential 
and State election in 1836 was held in the "Vestry under 
the Meeting-House in the West Parish", and until the new 
poor-house was built meetings were held in this vestry. 

On March 13, 1780, it was voted to "Chufe the Town 
Clerk and the firft Select man at One Vote"; Lieut. Robert 
Fuller was chosen. The custom then was to elect each 
official separately, as is still done in some Massachusetts 
towns. In 1803 the clerk was paid $4.36 for recording fifty- 
four births and deaths. In 1845 he was allowed $12 per 
year, and was paid for the preceding two years. 

In 1875 the town voted that the candidates for town 
officers, except the surveyors of highways, should be voted 
for on one ballot. This, however, did not prevent a variety 
of ballots. 

The moderators in the days of the Province were: — 

Captain Cook, already mentioned, Dea. Jeremiah Wood- 
cock four meetings, 1719-33, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf two 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM i8i 

in 1722, Ensign Thomas Fuller one in 1729/30, John 
Fisher, Esq., twenty-nine from 1729 to April i, 1752 (he 
died May 6, and was a noted moderator who presided over 
many annual meetings), Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery fifteen, 
1732/3-48/9, Robert Fuller two in 1749, Dea. Josiah 
Newell twenty, 1750-70, Lieut. Amos Fuller eighteen, 
1755-61, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery twenty-one, 1759-75,^ 
Michael Metcalf twenty-seven, 1763-76, Dea. John Fisher 
five, 1767-76,^ Lieut. Jonathan Day two in 1774, '75, 
Josiah Newell, Esq., two in 1776, John Slack on June 4, 
1776, Col. William Mcintosh on June 24, 1776, which 
was the last town meeting held before the Declaration of 
Independence. 

The first meeting after July 4, 1776, was that of July 15, 
when Josiah Eaton presided. 

Of the moderators prior to July 4, 1776, Michael Metcalf 
presided over five meetings subsequent to that date, the 
last one in 1791, Dea. John Fisher one in 1779, Josiah 
Newell three in 1777. The moderators since the Declaration 
of Independence, not mentioning those who have presided 
over less than ten meetings, are as follows: The Honorable 
Emery Grover ^ seventy-eight from 1874 to March 31, 191 1, 
Col. M'^Intosh seventy-four, which, together with the meet- 
ing just preceding the Declaration, gives him a total of 
seventy-five from 1776 to June 10, 1793, William Flagg, Esq., 
fifty, 1835-60, Daniel Ware, Esq., forty-five, 1803-17, 
Colonel Alden thirty-six, 1787-1804, George K. Daniell 
thirty-two, 1850-81, Lieut. William Fuller thirty-one, 

^ On December 22, 1773, when the excitement as to the location of the meet- 
ing-house was at its height, Messrs. Metcalf, Fisher and Day all in turn refused to 
serve as moderator, and Captain Kingsbery was elected and accepted. The name 
of the moderator of the town meeting on August 31, 1774, was not recorded. 

2 On July 16, 1907, and on January 7, 1908, Judge Grover was chosen modera- 
tor, in the absence of Mr. Moseley, who had been elected for the year, and on one 
occasion, in I909.^ the Judge was called to the chair, and presided throughout the 
meeting. The service in 1909 Is not included in the total of meetings credited to Mr. 
Grover, neither is any meeting counted for Mr. Moseley unless he was present. The 
reader is reminded that the writer does not, as a rule, give the title of "Esq." in 
this history subsequent to 1845. 



1 82 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

1780-1801, Israel Whitney, Esq., thirty, 1828-43, Benjamin 
Slack, Esq., twenty-nine, 1804-31, William G. Moseley 
twenty-eight from 1899 to Mar. 31, 191 1, Marshall 
Newell twenty-two, 1861-75, Capt. Elisha Lyon nine- 
teen, 1824-47, Edgar H. Bowers fifteen, 1867-1900, John 
W. Titus fourteen, 1894-8. Beginning with 1903 the mod- 
erators have been elected at the annual meeting for the 
year. In 1893 the town voted to pay the moderator of the 
annual town meeting $15, but this was discontinued after 
a few years, and it was not until 1907 that the moderator 
was again paid, the town then voting him $25 for the year. 

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL COURT 

Ensign Robert Cook was the first Representative from 
Needham, and was elected May 19, 1712. On May 11, 
1713, Benjamin Mills, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., 
and Ensign Cook were chosen a committee to wait upon 
the General Court to get the town excused from sending a 
member. There were many years when no representative 
was sent, and the town was fined in consequence. The fines 
varied from £22, is. in 1730 to £12 in 1773. The town re- 
peatedly by means of a committee, or by petition of the 
selectmen, whichever way the town directed, or through 
the efforts of the next member from Needham, got these 
fines either remitted or refunded. Sometimes the fines for 
several years were refunded at one session, and the town 
appropriated this money toward the minister's salary, or 
for the schools. The reasons given for not sending a member 
are shown by the petition of 1774, which was signed by the 
selectmen and presented to the General Court. They re- 
ferred to the great cost of the poor, the many bridges "& 
Support of a a considerable Bridge over S'* River in a part 
not contiguous to the S^ Town", and asked to be excused 
from the fine incurred for 1773, and to be exempted from 
sending a member in 1774. They succeeded so far as the 
fine already imposed was concerned. Selectmen Josiah 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 183 

Newell, Esq., and Nathaniel Fisher were paid £1, 12s. and 
£1, i6s., 4d., respectively for going to Boston in reference 
to this matter. Needham was fined £45 for 1788, but in 
1789 the General Court refunded the money, which was 
used in 1790 to pay town debts. In 1799 the fine previously 
incurred, amounting to $90.56, was remitted. Other towns 
were included in these Acts. Needham was unrepresented 
from 18 17 to 1823 (seven years), and for 1822 the fine was 
$100. 

On May 18, 1724, the town granted Dea. Timothy Kings- 
bery £18 for serving as representative, but as early as 1727 
the members of the Great and General Court were paid by 
the Province, and the exact amount depended upon attend- 
ance at the sessions. The amount paid was added to the 
Province tax of the town from which the member or members 
came. On May 20, 1728, the town met to choose a Repre- 
sentative — "The Select Men Caused the presept Directed to 
the felectMen of the Town For to Be Read in the Audiance 
of the Town, and alfo Coled Upon the Voters, then Afsem- 
bled for to Bring in thire votes for the Choice of a Repre- 
sentitive as the Law directs infolded, the Town Brought in 
thire Votes fo Slow Spending the Time untill allmost Night, 
That then the Select men Demanded to Know what the 
Matter was and it was declared by feveral of the Town that 
they ware not willing for to fend a Reprefentitive this 
year". The selectmen divided the house, and finding a 
majority in favor of sending adjourned to the next day, 
and issued a new warrant for May 24, when Josiah Kings- 
bery was chosen. While William Bowdoin was representa- 
tive he gave his pay to the town, and the money was used 
for the schools. There was some delay in realizing on three 
notes, amounting to £32, is., 6d., "His Wardiges For 
Serving this Town as a Reprefenitive " in 1755. For four 
years Mr. Bowdoin thus gave his salary to the town, and in 
1759 Amos Fuller did likewise, and 22 "Dollors", 5s., re- 
ceived from Mr. Fuller were used for the poor. On July 



1 84 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

26, 1779, Dea. John Fisher, the representative, informed 
the town that his compensation "was made up in the pay 
role" "More than his wages Came to", and the excess, 
£28, I2s., was voted into the town treasury. On May 17, 
1781, the town instructed its Representative in the General 
Court, Colonel Mcintosh, to "Use the beft of his Intreft" 
"Refpecting Certain Men Owning Large tracts of land In 
the Eaftward parts, and paying little or no Tax for the 
Same"; these lands were presumably in what Is now Maine. 
In 1785 the town chose a committee of five "to Gue our 
Reprefentative Some Inftructions ", and directed him to 
"Oppose Ralfing a land Tax". It was a common practice 
in New England to Instruct the representative by votes 
passed in a town meeting. 

TOWN RECORDS 

The records of the Town of Needham are In excellent con- 
dition. The only striking peculiarity Is that In the first vol- 
ume of Proceedings, 171 1-3 1, many of the dates are written 
new style, which suggests a copy rather than the original, 
although the book appears ancient. The earlier volumes 
were substantially bound in hog-skin. The double dates 
appear in the first part of Volume I, and again in 1727/8. 
At the May meeting In 1729 the town voted to have "a 
New Town Book bought for to Reglfiiure Births and Deaths 
in", and the following spring thirteen shillings were granted 
to Capt. Robert Fuller "for His Buying Two Town Books". 
On September 20, 173 1, the town voted to buy "a (New) 
Town Book," to be paid for from the "Lafi: Loan Money", 
which amounted to £1, 2s., and at the annual meeting, 
March i, 173 1/2, chose "the feverall Town Clerks that have 
Been in the Town Namely De Timothy KIngsbery Jofiah 
Newel John Fifher & Robert Fuller for to Tranfcribe Births 
In to a New Town Book and to Rectlfie any Mifi:akes that 
appears there In". On March 2, 1767, Robert Fuller, Jr., 
was granted 7s., 6d. "for a new Book to Record Births In", 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 185 

and October 4, 1770, twelve shillings for a town book. In 
1769 Amos Fuller, Jr., was paid six shillings for a new town 
treasurer's book; the oldest one now in the possession of 
the town. 

In 18 17 Solomon Flagg had procured a "Chest to keep 
the town books in and other papers"; perhaps the chest 
still owned by the town. In 18 19 a trunk was purchased 
for the use of the selectmen. In 1853 the town bought a 
safe, which cost, including freight, $152.72. Since 1876 the 
town has repeatedly been at considerable expense to pro- 
tect its records, which now number upward of thirty manu- 
script volumes, some of them containing more than five 
hundred pages, and including twelve books of town pro- 
ceedings. There are fine vaults in the new town hall. 

In 1883 Needham appropriated $100, as a beginning, and 
the town clerk, then Mr. Greenwood, and George K. Clarke 
were "to join with the Town of Wellesley In printing the 
records of the town for the first 100 years of its existence", 
but a similar appropriation unexpectedly failed In Wellesley 
in consequence of the neglect to consult a political leader, 
who resented the alleged slight. All of the conditions were 
then favorable for doing the work In the best manner and 
at moderate cost, as the preparation of the copy and the edit- 
ing were to have been free of expense to the towns. On 
March 20, 1893, acting under article 18, which was based 
upon a petition of Edgar H. Bowers and others "to see If 
the town will take action In regard to the collection and 
publication of Its history from its first settlement to the 
present time", the citizens appointed a committee, consist- 
ing of Edgar H. Bowers, Charles C. Greenwood, James 
Mackintosh and Emery Grover, to "Inquire into the matter 
of preparing and publishing the history of the town, and 
report upon the expense and expediency of such publica- 
tion, and any facts In connection with the same". Mr. 
Greenwood declined positively to write a history of the town, 
and the subject continued In abeyance. On March 17, 1902, 



i86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the town appointed as a "Committee on a Town History" 
Thomas Sutton, George K. Clarke, T. Otis Fuller, Louis A. 
Holman, Francis E. Reed, William A. Probert and Edwin V. 
Lawrence. This committee reported in the Town Report for 
1902, advising that no action be taken until Mr. Clarke had 
had ample opportunity to prepare a history of the town. 

CURIOUS ITEMS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS 

In the warrant for the town meeting on May 20, 1745, 
was the following article: "to See what the Town will do 
with their Law Book that Cap* Robert Fuller keeps in his 
hands". On March 14, 1757, the town voted to allow 
"Thomas Metcalf Town Clerk his Co ft and Charge in 
Defending himfelf and Town in that Eregularous Vote 
which was Paft in May Meeting in the year 1754 which he 
was Complaned of to our Superior Court for not Recording". 
Two years later he got £8, 8s. as the result of this vote. On 
May 15, 1761, the selectmen granted Samuel Mackintier 
six shillings for attendance upon the Superior Court "Upon 
the Requeft of m"" Thomas Metcalf our Late Town Clerk 
in the affair of that Erregular Vote which M' Townfend 
Complained of him for not Recording". On February 18, 
1766, the selectmen deducted from £2, 6s., g^d. granted 
to Mrs. Hannah Coller for teaching the sum of 6s., 7 2d. 
"which She Ordered Eleazer Kingsbery Ju='" to take Upon 
the Account of Shoes Said Kingsbery Got for her Upon her 
Defire". On October 27, 1766, the town instructed Lieut. 
Amos Fuller, its representative in the General Court, not 
to vote "To have the Damages that was Suftained to Per- 
ticuler Perfons in Bofton in the year 1765: Repaid". A 
rate of £40 was voted on March 19, 1779, the money to 
"be put into the hands of the Select= men To be Used at 
their Decretlon: To Help Zebadiah Pratt to his eye Sight 
again". Pratt had been a Lexington Alarm man, and per- 
haps had been injured in the service of the town. Blasting 
rocks was occasionally the cause of serious mutilation in 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 187 

the days of yore. On August 31, the selectmen granted 
him £30 "to Enable him to go to a Doctor in Order to Git 
his eye sight". In 1782 Col. Mcintosh was granted £9, 2s. 
*'for money he paid for a horfe for the Town, and for Pafture- 
ing four horfes one week, and Shewing one horfe". 

On May 12, 1783, there was an article in the warrant "to 
See If it be the mind of the Town to Receive the Abfentees 
to Come and Dwell amongst us, and It paft in the Negative". 
The town then voted to "Exclude" the absentees, pre- 
sumably referring to the Loyalists, one of whom was the 
Rev. Mr. Townsend's son Gregory, then in exile at Halifax. 
On April 20, 1786, Joseph Mudge, Jr., had an order for 
eighteen shillings "It being the Fees Upon an Execution he 
Had agalnft C0I2 Ws Mllntofh and Lieu* Robert Fuller 
in Favor of John KIndreck". In 1786 Timothy Newell re- 
ceived from the town treasurer "one Eight Dollor Bill in 
New Emifion" which was "Counterfit", but the town later 
paid him in good money. That year Col. M<=Intosh charged 
twelve shillings "for finding a room fire and Candles for 
the Select men". In 18 10 the town treasurer, Lieut. Daniel 
Ware, found himself in the possession of a counterfeit bill, 
and the town allowed him S4. In 1833 there was discussion 
in a town meeting as to a bad $10 bill purporting to be on 
the Burrellville Bank. 

In 1857 the selectmen were directed "to construct a true 
Meridian Line". 

Solomon Flagg, the town treasurer, sent some money In a 
letter, which never reached its destination, and in 1868 the 
town reimbursed him. 

PUBLICATIONS BY THE TOWN 

In early times there was but little printing at the expense 
of the town. 

In 1819 $5 were paid to Herman Man & Co. for blank 
orders for the use of the selectmen, which blanks must have 
saved much labor, as previously all the orders were written 



i88 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

in full. On April 4, 1842, the town voted to print a report of 
its receipts and expenditures, for the year ending April 5, 
"and to furnish each Voter with a Copy". Thomas Kings- 
bury, Elisha Lyon and William Lyon were the committee 
which had the matter in charge, and the little pamphlet of 
eight pages, without a cover, is from the press of H. Mann, 
Book & Job Printer, Dedham. A similar report was printed 
in the spring of 1843, but no other report appeared in print 
until one for the year ending April i, 1852, and this contained 
fourteen pages. From 1852 to the present time the town 
report has appeared annually, and for twenty years has been 
a large book, often containing ndarly four hundred pages. 
The first printed school report was for the year 1849/50, 
and is larger than the early town reports, as it contains 
eight pages, octavo. It has the imprint "Roxbury: Norfolk 
County Journal Press. Over Central Market. 1850". In 
1856 the report of the General School Committee appeared 
with the town report, and again in 1857 and in 1858, but 
this was not usually the case until 1870. Prior to 1865 the 
financial year closed in April, or in February, and from 
1865 to 1877 on January 31. The town report was for the 
financial year, which was confusing, as no calendar year 
was complete in a volume. There are two town reports 
for 1877, one for the year ending January 31, and the other 
to December 31. The early editions of town and school 
reports were of five hundred copies, and cost about $12. The 
record of deaths has been included in the town report from 
1864, of marriages from 1871, and of births from 1885. 
From 1877 to 1888 the town clerk's record of the doings at 
the annual town meetings, and adjournments thereof, were 
printed in a small pamphlet, which was without colored 
covers until 1888. In 1889 the town clerk's records were 
also included in the town report, which was issued the fol- 
lowing spring. Beginning with 1890 the town report has 
contained the records of all of the meetings during the cal- 
endar year, not excepting the Federal and State elections. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 189 

From 1866 to 1870 the town reports give a roster of the 
principal town officers, and commencing with 1871 are in- 
tended to give the names of all of the officials. The valua- 
tion and tax lists were printed in the town reports for i860, 
'62, '64, and annually from 1868. Several of the depart- 
ments issue reprints of their reports, and the school com- 
mittee have done so for many years. In 1877 the valuation 
list was issued separately. 

TOWN SEAL 

At the annual meeting in 1890 the selectmen, together 
with George K. Clarke and Emery Grover, were chosen to 
procure a town seal, and after careful consideration of sev- 
eral designs, some of them suggested by members of the 
committee, reported the one adopted on March 2, 1891, and 
ever since in use.^ 

TOWN AGENTS AND LAWSUITS 

On May 28, 1792, Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. Josiah Newell 
and " Cor-* Joseph Mudg " were chosen "agents to act on 
behalf of the Town, and Carry on all Caufes or Suits at Law 
in favor or againft the Town", and such agents were chosen 
in earlier times as needed; the number rarely exceeding 
three. Two or three town agents were chosen annually for 
many years, but since 1879 the selectmen have been the 
town agents by vote of the March meetings. William Flagg, 
Esq., was town agent for fourteen years between 1837 and 
i860. In common with other towns Needham has had con- 
siderable litigation, and some of the cases have reached the 
Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth. The set- 
tlement of the poor, road cases before the Court of Sessions, 
claims for damages for injuries resulting from alleged defects 

^ In the pageant, or procession, on September 19, 191 1, during the Bicen- 
tennial celebration, the float representing the Town Seal was one of the best 
features. John F. and Sumner B. Mills personated the two white men, and 
George Lyman Kingsbury, the Indian, Nehoiden, which was appropriate as they 
are descendants of some of the first inhabitants of the town. 



I90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

in highways, and, in later years, controversies with corpora- 
tions have supplied most of the causes. These cases excited 
interest at the time, and some of them were costly, but none 
of them are now of importance. In settlement of the 
"Murphy Case" the town paid annually several hundred 
dollars to the widow and minor children of Patrick Murphy, 
who lost his life on October 7, 1898, while employed by the 
town, in consequence of the caving in of the gravel bank at 
"Hewitt's Pit". These payments ceased in 1910, and had 
amounted to $4000. From 1800 to 1850 the town employed 
as counsel Horatio Townsend, Laben Wheaton, B. Whitman 
of the firm of Whitman & Morton, James Richardson, 
Joseph Harrington, Theron Metcalf and Ezra Wilkinson. 
Mr. Richardson was "our attorney" at times from 1809 to 
1849. In those days the fees and charges for legal service 
were very moderate, rarely exceeding $20 for trying a case. 
In later times the Honorable Frederick D. Ely, Henry E. 
Fales, the Honorable Emery Grover and the Honorable 
Thomas E. Grover have been among the more conspicuous 
counsel retained by the town. 

TOWN HALL 

The last town meeting before the division of the town was 
that held on March 7, 1881, in the town hall at the alms- 
house, with George K. Daniell, Esq., as moderator. Al- 
though it was the annual meeting, and a board of selectmen 
was chosen, it was soon adjourned to April 4, on which day 
the town met in Parker Hall, dissolved the annual meeting 
of March 7, and proceeded under a new warrant with Emery 
Grover, Esq., as moderator. The veteran town clerk, and 
a few others from what had been the West part of the town 
were present. The town continued to meet in Parker Hall 
to March 13, 1882, and on that date adjourned to the 20th, 
but then met on the site, as the hall had been burned on the 
i8th at 5.30 A.M., together with the house near, built in 
the fifties by Frederick Marchant. The Parker Building was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 191 

a total loss, and included the stores and the post-office. The 
principal store was the grocery of Edmond B. Fowler, and 
the fact that the post-office safe had been blown open by 
burglars indicated an incendiary fire. This hall, long known 
as Village Hall, was built in 1854 by Stephen F. Harvey,^ 
and enlarged more than once. Obed C. Parker, who was 
from Nantucket, purchased it and transformed it into a 
comparatively large building with a good-sized hall up one 
flight. The writer recalls the celebration in the autumn of 
1870 when the remodelling was completed. Mr. Parker had 
a grocery on the ground floor, but had several successors 
before the structure was burned. When the town met on 
the site on March 20, 1882, it voted to adjourn to the Baptist 
vestry, where town meetings were held for two years, with 
the exception of a meeting at 8 P.M. on July 27, 1883, 
which was in Good Templars Hall, Odd Fellows Building, 
with George K. Clarke as the moderator. The town had 
anticipated leasing a portion of a building that was planned 
for the site of the Parker Hall, but its construction was 
indefinitely postponed, and In 1884 the town leased the hall 
and several rooms in the new Moseley Building at a rental 
of $650 per year for five years, and expended $1125 to fur- 
nish the premises. Herbert Moseley sold this block in 1889 
to Henry F. May, and the town leased from the latter. 
The first meeting in this hall was that at 4 P.M. on August 4, 
1884; Edgar H. Bowers was moderator. In 1888 a com- 
mittee of five, which had been chosen to consider building a 
town hall, reported by its chairman, the Honorable Enos H. 
Tucker, that a suitable hall could be built for $27,500, and 
also submitted a plan of Mr. M^Kay of Boston for a brick 
town hall with granite trimmings, which he stated would 
cost from $25,000 to $30,000. The town, however, decided 
to accept an offer made by Herbert Moseley, and leased of 
him for another term. 

1 In 1855 Mr. Harvey was assessed on ^2800 for this building, and also for stock 
in trade valued at $3000. 



192 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

NEW TOWN HALL 

On March 2, 1902, the town accepted the report of a 
committee of nine in favor of building a town hall. Edgar 
H. Bowers was the chairman of this committee, which had 
been chosen on November 26, 1901. On March 17, 1902, a 
building committee was chosen consisting of Rodman Paul 
Snelling, Daniel Webster Richards, Emery Grover, John 
Edward Buckley and Harrie Sumner Whittemore. The 
corner stone of this fine public building was laid by the 
Grand Lodge of Masons on September 2, 1902, and it was 
dedicated on December 22, 1903, at 8 o'clock in the evening. 
The cost. Including furnishing, was about $57,500. The 
hall is located on the Common, and consequently no land 
was purchased. In August, 1902, $250 were voted to defray 
the expenses attending the laying of the corner stone, which 
ceremony was a part of the Old Home Week programme. It 
took place in the afternoon, there having previously been 
a procession headed by Dodge's Cadet Band of Natick, 
which later participated in the exercises. The furnishing 
of the hall was only to the extent of $2500 in 1903, and since 
many expensive desks, etc., have been added. The plans 
for the town hall were drawn by Winslow & BIgelow, and 
Mead, Mason & Co. were the contractors. 

TOWN CAUCUS 

The town caucus is somewhat peculiar to Needham, and 
is unintelligible to people who never heard of a caucus called 
by the selectmen to nominate town officers, and having no 
connection whatever with Federal or State politics. Such 
a caucus was first ordered by the town at its annual meeting 
in 1875, and was to be called the following year at least four 
days before the annual town meeting. Until recently this 
caucus has rarely been omitted, and on the whole has been 
of advantage to the town. The first caucus after the divi- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 193 

sion of the town was held in Parker Hall on April 6, 1881, 
with Emery Grover, Esq., as chairman, and George K. 
Clarke as secretary. 

BY-LAWS 

In 1870 a committee of nine was chosen to draft by-laws 
for the town, and the next spring this committee was in- 
creased to twelve. By-laws as to truants were adopted in 
1877 and in 1887, and a general code in 1880, which latter 
was submitted to the Superior Court for approval. Town 
by-laws have since been adopted on March 2, 1891, and 
plumbing regulations, or by-laws, in 1894 and in 1896. 
At the annual meeting in 1900 the nine o'clock curfew law, 
which had been rejected the previous year, was accepted, 
but public sentiment did not sustain its enforcement. On 
January 13, and on March 7, 1910, the town adopted a code 
of by-laws, which were approved by the Attorney General on 
March 30th. 



THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 

On December i8, 171 1, the town chose Benjamin Mills, 
Richard Moore, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Robert Cook, Ephraim Ware, Andrew 
Dewing and Timothy Kingsbery a committee to decide 
where to build a meeting-house. The sites proposed were a 
little plain upon the hill against Matthias Ockinton's field, ^ 
and a similar elevation on the south end of North Hill. 
All but Moore and Dewing reported on Christmas day in 
favor of the location first mentioned, and the meeting was 
"lengthened" to consider the matter. It was voted to 
build, and £80 were appropriated, one half to be paid in 
work. Ensign John Spring of Newton was their choice for 
master workman, and Messrs. Mills, Fisher, Smith, Wood- 
cock, Cook and Ware, of the former committee, with Ser- 
geant Jonathan Gay, Thomas Fuller, John Smith, Jr., 
Joseph Mills, Eleazer Kingsbery and George Robinson, were 
chosen as a building committee. The town meeting on 
Christmas day illustrates the disregard which the Puritans 
had for that festival. The location was not then finally 
settled, and was referred to the General Court, whose com- 
mittee reported, June 18, 1712,^ in favor of the place where 
the frame already lay, and where the meeting-house was 
built. Thus was temporarily silenced a controversy that 
was to last for generations. On June 9 a committee of 

^ This field is now a part of the writer's homestead, and is called "The Ock- 
inton Field." 

2 There is no petition on file, asking for this committee, and the order of the 
General Court forms a part of that relating to the boundary. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 195 

ten, including Lieut. John Fisher and Benjamin Mills, was 
chosen to solicit subscriptions for the "Honerabell Raisen" 
of the meeting-house, and August 26, £20 were voted for 
the building, and in 1713 this was increased by £50, making 
£150 to date. 

On October 29, 171 2, the town chose Lieut. John Fisher, 
John Smith, Sr., and Thomas Fuller a building com- 
mittee, perhaps superseding that named on Christmas day. 
William Clark sawed the lumber, and in June, 1713, £2 
were due to Lieut. John Fisher for "Glafmg of the meetting 
House". On September 15, 1713, the town selected Ensign 
Robert Cook, Jeremiah Woodcock and Josiah Kingsbery to 
look after Ensign Spring, "the Carpender", and to finish 
the meeting-house so that it could be used. On August 16, 
1714, Spring receipted for £23 in full for services, but on 
June 21, 1715, the house was unfinished, although in use, 
and £50 were voted to be expended under the direction of 
Lieut. Cook, John Rice and Joseph Boyden, with Capt. 
Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Sr., Ebenezer 
Ware, Jeremiah Woodcock and Thomas Metcalf to advise 
them. Many of the prominent inhabitants had worked on 
the meeting-house, but Jeremiah Woodcock finally completed 
it for £80 and prior to June i, 1717, in accordance with 
his bond and with the vote of the town, August 31, 1716, 
when various propositions as to the number and location of 
pews were voted on separately. 

There was presumably no dedication, and in the Century 
Sermon Mr. Palmer suggested that the house was probably 
used for worship soon after it was raised, and that perhaps 
the Rev. Mr. Deming was the first to preach in it. In 1724 
forty shillings were added to the school rate to finish the 
meeting-house, and in 173 1 the town voted to repair the 
outside. From 1720, when John Bradish set glass, "the 
breches in the Meeting house windows" required not infre- 
quent attention. Edward Child (Childs) was for many years 
"the Glafher", and from 1743 to 1751 Timothy Ellis also 



196 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

did such work. In 1769 John Childs was paid £1, 14s., id. 
"for his Glafing Two New windows at the Meeting houfe" 
in 1768, and replacing other glass. On March 14, 1736/7, 
the town voted a rate of £40 to repair the meeting-house, 
build pews, and prepare a place for the town's stock of 
ammunition. Under this vote about £10 were paid to 
Eleazer Kingsbery, £8 to Samuel Parker and £56 to Capt. 
John Fisher. The previous year Jonathan Smith and 
Benoni Woodward had been chosen a committee to make 
repairs, but the means were not provided. A report of 
Messrs. Fisher, Kingsbery and Parker was rejected at a 
meeting on November 28, 1737, but £35 were finally voted 
to pay for necessary repairs not anticipated. In 1745 some 
repairs were made, and in 1748 the selectmen appointed 
Caleb Kingsbery "to Mend the feats in the Meeting houfe 
and put up and faften the Cafements that want and to alter 
the powder Cheft for the Town ftock ammunition to be 
put in and to find a lock and Key if need be &c". He was 
paid £3. In 1749 Aaron Smith strengthened the doors with 
irons, and on October 4, 1752, the "over plufh" of the 
representative's pay was devoted to repairs, and also a rate 
of £6, 13s., 4d. Deacon Fisher, James Smith and Jonathan 
Parker were the committee on repairs, which proved to be 
considerable. Three of the workmen boarded five days 
with Ensign Thomas Fuller at the Fuller-Mills house. 

On June 5, 1760, the report of Samuel Mackintier, Tim- 
othy Newell and Amos Fuller, Jr., was accepted as to repairs 
of the east end and roof; they had been appointed May 24, 
1759. On May 18, 1763, the town voted to repair the meet- 
ing-house, and chose Michael Metcalf, Ebenezer Fisher and 
Capt. Ephraim Jackson a committee for that purpose; about 
£8 were later granted to the members of this committee for 
the work. On January 31, 1769, £1, 12s., were granted to 
Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher for three window frames and sashes, 
and putting them up at the meeting-house. 

Prior to 1769 there were small repairs from time to time. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 197 

At four o'clock on the morning of October 18, 1773, the 
Rev. Mr. West, who lived where George K. Clarke resides, 
was awakened by a light shining on his eyes, and discovered 
nearly the whole roof of the meeting-house enveloped in 
flames. It was very dry, and only the hinges, some nails, 
and a piece of red plush or velvet from the pulpit are known 
to have been saved. The people gathered at the ruins, 
many of them in great distress, and bitter against the in- 
cendiary, whose identity is still "known only to God". 
The feeling in regard to a new meeting-house, and its loca- 
tion, had become intense, and had borne its fruit. At a 
town meeting on November 18, 1773, a reward of £10 was 
offered to the person or persons "that Shall make Difcov- 
ery of what Perfon or Perfons that Set the Meeting houfe 
on Fire So that he or they May be brought to Conviction". 
The last sermon preached in the old meeting-house was on 
the day before it was burned, when Mr. West chose for his 
text "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust 
in the Lord". Ps. IV. 5. The same day he baptized 
Jeremiah, son of Amos and Esther (Kingsbery) Fuller; 
Mrs. Fuller's aunt Ruth was the first child baptized in this 
meeting-house and her son Jeremiah was the last. On 
March 4, 1774, Nehemiah Mills, Jr., was granted six shil- 
lings "For Two Days and half Labour, In Taking Care of 
the Hinges, and Nails, and Bricks, of the Meeting Houfe 
after it was burnt". Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a 
piece of the cloth, rescued by Ebenezer Newell, who lived 
just beyond the burying-ground, where George H. Rollins 
dwells in 191 1. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker had an 
ancient oak panel, 9I inches by 12I inches, which he 
stated came from the pulpit of this meeting-house, pre- 
sumably before the fire. 

The following persons took care of the meeting-house, but 
as there was no artificial heat until 1799, the principal duty 
was "to Keep & Sweep y« meetin houfe", — John Gill in 
171 8, '19, '23, at twenty shillings per year for the first two 



198 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

years, James Kingsbery in 1724-31, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 
in 173 1-3, '54, '55. John Pain agreed to take care of the 
meeting-house, if excused from serving as constable, from 
April, 1735 to April, 1736, but apparently did not. Ebenezer 
Lyon cared for it in 1734-6 at £2 per year, Hezekiah Kings- 
bery in 1736-45, Mrs. John Fuller in 1746-8, Nathaniel Ayers 
in 1748, '49, '55-8, Deacon Woodcock in 1749-51, and his 
widow, Hannah, in 1752. On June 5, 1754, the Rev. Mr. 
Townsend was granted £1, is., 4d., for his servant's taking 
care of the meeting-house in 1753 ; this was probably the negro 
Homer, who died April 9, 1754. Amos Fuller, Jr., took care 
of the meeting-house June, 1758-66, Lieut. Samuel Town- 
send a part of 1752, John Kingsbery in 1766, ''d']^ Ebenezer 
Newell in 1767-73. Mr. Newell was the first custodian of 
the new meeting-house, and was succeeded by Jube (colored) 
in 1785. Mr. Newell had charge in 1791-7. 



SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE 

Seating the Meeting-house was a very serious matter in 
old times, and success was difhcult, as social position, taxes 
paid, official station and age were all to be considered. On 
May 13, 1720, the town voted that the men should sit in 
the front gallery, the women in the pews under the stairs, 
and chose Capt. Cook, Lieut. Fisher, John Rice, "Sargeant" 
Daniell and Timothy Kingsbery to arrange the details. 
On November 29, 1725, Capt. Cook, Dea. Timothy Kings- 
bery and Ensign Thomas Fuller were instructed to "New 
plafe the Meetting Houfe", but not to place any boy under 
twenty, for they were to go in the "Weft Corner", or any 
girl under eighteen. On August 9, 1733, the same worthies, 
with Lieut. Metcalf instead of the Ensign, were to "dig- 
nifie" the seats, and on May 17, 1736, with the addition of 
James Kingsbery, they were again chosen to "place" the 
meeting-house. 

In March, 1737, the town voted to build new seats, and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 199 

in June two pews in the northerly corner. On March 14, 
1737/8, "the Two old pues under the ftairs and the two 
Corner pues at the front Door" were to be "Raifed in Dlgni- 
fication", but a committee that attempted to make changes 
in the "Dignificatlon of fix of the pues" failed, and their 
report was rejected on the 28th. At the May meeting the 
"Dignlfication" was accepted, and Josiah Kingsbery, Na- 
thaniel BuUard, Josiah Newell, Jonathan Smith and Jere- 
miah Fisher were named as a committee to seat the people. 
The town allowed the women to occupy the right-hand part 
of the front gallery "Ecept the hind Pens"; although the 
next annual town meeting forbade them to have the front 
of the gallery. On June 19, 1738, the report of the committee 
chosen in May was accepted, but on January 7, 1739/40, 
the town reconsidered all that had been done as to "Digni- 
fying the Seats", and adjourned to "next monday Come 
fevennight". 

At the meeting on May 19, 1740, Captain Cook, John 
Fisher, Esq., Ensign Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith were 
chosen to place the people. The next day, by a close vote, 
"the Houfe being Devided by the Pould", the women 
were allowed part of the "Frunt Gallery". On the last 
day of June, however, the whole subject of seating the 
meeting-house was reconsidered. It was voted that the 
women were to have three seats at the right of the front 
gallery; that "the women Shall have the right hand in the 
Body of Seats Below & the Eaft Side Gallery & to Set in the 
Pews Below whare their Husbands Shall be Plac'd"; the pew 
"by Madam Townfends Pew fould be for women"; and that 
"out Town People that Congregate with us to Sett whare 
they Pleafe in any of the Common Seats". Dea. Timothy 
Kingsbery, Ensign Robert Fuller, Peter Edes, Josiah Newell 
and Jonathan Smith were to draft the "Dignifycation". On 
July 7 the report of the committee chosen in May was ac- 
cepted, and it was voted to "divide the Two Pews under the 
Stares & make four of them". The committee to draft the 



200 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

"DIgnifycation" was also to seat the people. Timothy 
Kingsbery, Jr., however, served In place of the Deacon, and 
BenonI Woodward was added. This committee was to divide 
two pews and "to mend up the Pew by the Eaft Door". 
Apparently In despair the whole matter was dropped until 
May 23, 1753, the articles In the warrants having been dis- 
missed, but In May the town chose a committee of fifteen 
with full power to seat the people for two years. The meet- 
ing was then adjourned to "y« Second Lecture Day", which 
was the 12th, on which day the report of the committee was 
accepted, and the town voted "that thofe young men that 
were One & Twenty Years old Should Set In Frunt Pue In 
the Galere and thofe that were Eighteen years old Should 
Set In the Side Pue In theGalIre". In May, 1755, the town 
again voted to seat the people for two years, added five to 
the committee named In 1753, and directed them to report 
"the Second Lecttor Day". In 1762 and 1767 committees, 
each consisting of seven men, were chosen to place the people 
in the meeting-house, and on June 8, 1770, a committee of 
fifteen was "to Seat Perfons in the Seats and Pues in y« 
Meeting Houfe". On November 9 Joslah Newell, Esq., 
Dea. John Fisher and Joslah Ware were designated for the 
same duty, and there is no further reference In the town 
records to this matter, which had occasioned a number of 
town meetings, and caused much controversy. 

DISCONTENT IN THE WEST 

In May, 1733, the town, rejecting two petitions, refused 
to relieve the westerly inhabitants from their ministerial 
rates, but on March 14, 1736/7, exempted those living 
"beyound the Brook by Edward Wards Mill from baring 
aney Charge in Repairing of the Meeting Houfe", and the 
following June extended the exemption to the charges for 
repairing and building pews. At the May meeting In 1738, 
a request for relief from the minister's rate was refused. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 201 

THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 

On May 28, 1772, the town declined to build a meeting- 
house in Baker's Field, which a committee and Mr. Mason, 
the surveyor, had designated as the geographical centre of 
the town. This field, which was owned before 171 1 by John 
Baker, adjoins the homestead of the late Curtis Mcintosh 
on the west. The town voted to build "on the North Side 
of the Meeting houfe; As Near as it Could be Conveniently 
Built"; but neither appropriated money nor chose a com- 
mittee. Of the two principal votes, the first was on the loca- 
tion, the second as to building. On March 8, 1773, an article 
as to building was dismissed, but on November 4 the votes 
of the previous May were confirmed, against a strong oppo- 
sition, and on the i8th £200 were voted to be raised by a 
tax "this year" by the "Single Rate that is yet to be made; 
And by the Same Rules that the Other Town Taxes are 
Raifed by this year". 

The town chose by ballot Michael Metcalf, Dea. John 
Fisher, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Lieut. William Mackintafh and 
Amos Fuller a building committee, and instructed them to 
take a plan or plans "Of One or more of the meeting Houfen 
in the Neighboring Towns". On December 9 it was voted 
that the meeting-house should be sixty feet long and forty- 
three feet wide, and the committee were to consult "with 
Some Skilful! Carpenter or Carpenters what Bignefs the 
under frames Should be made", and to get timber "in the 
Beft manner they can". They were to take further advice 
and to procure "winder frames and Safhes made in the 
Befi; and cheapefi: Manner they Can", "Oake Bords to 
Shingle and Clabbord on", and "pitch pine Bords for the 
Flowers". 

On February 17, 1774, the committee was empowered to 
obtain a carpenter and 15,000 feet of "white pine Timber 
for the Beams of the Meeting Houfe", and in March the 
town voted to borrow £100, lawful money, to meet the 



202 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

expense. There was one meeting in April and two in June 
at which votes were passed as to shingles, clapboards, 
"Stones to Under pin", nails and glass. On June 27 the 
committee was instructed to lay the foundation, raise the 
building, and have it "Inclof^ after it is Raif'd in the Beft 
and Cheapeft Manner they Can". The meeting-house was 
raised on August 2d and 3d, 1774.^ The people of the East, 
after prayer, got to work at half past five in the morning, 
and the West Needham contingent, which had threatened 
to obstruct the raising, did not arrive till nine, and finding 
the work far advanced, peaceably but sullenly withdrew. 
In the autumn of 1880, on an occasion of almost equal im- 
portance, the tables were turned, and the affair of 1774 was 
referred to in triumph. 

Adam Blackman of Stoughton was the principal builder 
of the Second Meeting-house, and was satisfactory. The 
materials for the construction of this meeting-house were 
purchased, as the numerous orders granted by the selectmen 
prove, in small quantities of many individuals, most of 
them Needham people. Of the larger items were the timber, 
joists and shingles bought of Dea. John Fisher, boards of 
Joseph Daniell, timber of Robert Fuller, and "Joice Laths 
Boards" of Josiah Newell, Esq. Sixty-one and one half 
pounds of "Iron Bolts" were bought for £1, i6s,, lod. of 
Aaron Richardson, seventy-eight pounds of "Stur up Iron" 
for £2, 6s., 9d., 2f. of Jonathan Bixby; two thousand shingles, 
seventy feet of "Cants for window Caps and window Stuff", 
and some "Claboards" were furnished by May & Williams. 
Samuel Wight supplied "Spikes, Hinges, and Door Latches", 
Josiah Newell, Jr., nails. Thomas Fuller, Oliver Mills, 
Samuel Bacon, Lemuel Mills, Samuel Alden, Ensign Eliakim 
Cook, Moses Bullard, Michael Metcalf and Eleazer Fuller 
carted material, chiefly boards, from Boston. Silas Alden 

* Mr. Palmer, in his "Century Sermon," stated that the Second Meeting-house 
was raised on August 3d and 4th, but Mr. West, if his autobiography is correctly 
quoted, gave the dates as 2d and 3d. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 203 

and Ellakim Cook were each granted sixteen shillings for 
"Carting Two Hogfheads of Lime from Bolton", and 
Lemuel Pratt £2, is., 3d. for going to Waltham and to 
Dedham, carting "Two pine Beams from Bofton", "Sawing 
Timber for window Caps", "Joice" etc. Ebenezer Fisher 
laid two thirds of the lower floor and Amos Fuller the rest of 
it, which took him twenty-two days; Mr. Fuller also "put 
up" carpenters. Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., sold the committee 
eight bushels of "hair to put in the Lime to Plafter". 

The following persons were also employed on the meeting- 
house: — John Clark, Theophilus Richardson, Jr., Ebenezer 
Clark and sons, William Smith, Jonathan Day, Robert 
Smith, Elisha Mills, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, Ebenezer 
Fuller, Timothy Newell, Enoch Kingsbery, Simeon Fisher, 
John Tolman, Richard Richardson (he worked about eighty- 
three days at 2s., 8d. per day), Samuel Richardson and his 
boy. Aaron Richards worked thirty-eight days at 2s., 6d. 
per day. 

Dea. John Fisher had much to do with building the 
meeting-house, and obtained clapboards and shingles of 
William Sanger of Watertown. Colonel Mackintash was also 
active, and among his claims were items "for Rum, and 
Other articles he found for the Ralfmg of the Meeting 
Houfe", some of which "articles" were bought of Moses 
Davis. Timothy Newell was granted 7s., |d. for a "Cheefe 
at the Ralfmg"; Ebenezer Newell had an order to pay him 
for "Boarding Carpinters", "and Keeping the Mafons 
Horfes when they Plaiftered"; Mr. Newell was also paid 
£7, i8s., 8d., 3f. for "Entertaining Pepple" when the meet- 
ing-house was raised. 

The meeting-house was not finished for about four years, 
but service was held in it on Sunday, August 21, 1774, when 
Mr. West preached from Job XXII, 21- '' Acquaint now thyself 
with him and he at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee'\ 

The meeting-house was painted in 1793 by John A. Haven 
for £36, and in 18 12 the parish paid $97 for paint. 



204 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

THE FIRST CHURCH-BELL IN NEEDHAM 

On June 3, 181 1, it was voted at a Parish meeting "to 
build a Steeple to their Meeting house, of a decent form, 
and fit to support a bell of a size sufficient to accomodate 
the Parish", and that month, and the following March, $750 
were voted for repairs and for the "Tower". 

The names of the subscribers for the bell included those 
of women, and they are recorded in the Church books. 
The bell was made by Paul Revere & Son, and cost $407.61. 
On November 15, 181 1, it was in place, and was rung. Mr. 
Palmer wrote in the Church records "the first Chh bell 
ever rung in this town". This bell is still (191 1) in use. 
For the elaborate rules, prepared by Mr. Palmer, for ringing 
it on certain days and occasions see the Dedham Historical 
Register for January, 1893. 

On April i, 1812, Ralph Day was paid $1.17 "for fixing the 
Hammer to toll the Bell with". 



THE THIRD MEETING-HOUSE 

The last service in the Second Meeting-house was on 
Sunday, April 24, 1836, and two days later the interior of 
the building was stripped, and the windows removed, by a 
general turnout of the parishioners; Richard Boynton, Jr., 
took down the frame. 

The old noon-house^ was transported to "Peppermill 
Road" (Hunnewell Street), and became the house of Jon- 
athan Ware, who was known as "Old Peppermill"; in 191 1 
the Treaner family lived in it. 

Although much of the material from the old house went 
into the present one, the porches were made into a dwelling 

I The noon-house was an ancient institution, and when the people remained to 
the afternoon service it was a headquarters for sociability and gossip. Many of 
our people went to the minister's during the noon intermission, often nominally 
to get water from the fine old well east of his house. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 205 

on what is now Central Avenue, and some of the ancient 
doors were utilized there. ^ 

The new house stood at right angles with the earlier one, 
and farther from the highway. It was formally dedicated 
July 26, 1837. Early in 1879 it was moved across a portion 
of the VN^riter's homestead, where it remained for three weeks 
or more, and then to Great Plain Avenue whence it was 
taken to its present site, where after much renovation, 
which resulted in the disappearance of the old-fashioned 
pews, it was rededicated on January 15, 1880. 

Several long-absent sons and daughters of Needham were 
interested in these changes of the Church, and one of them, 
Othman Wallburg, painted a beautiful open Bible on the 
ceiling above the pulpit. Mr. Wallburg was not born in 
Needham, but passed his youth here, and later became a 
talented artist.^ 

The horse sheds were rebuilt, or increased in number, in 
1830, but deeds prior to 1800 refer to the "Noon House and 
Horse Stables". 

A granite bank wall was built in 1858 along that portion 
of the land on the western extremity of which stands the 
oak, probably the oldest tree in Needham. The next year 
the substantial fence of granite posts, connected by chains, 
on which we used to swing in happier days, was placed around 
the "Church Lot", and the trees were set out. 

Of the many gifts in 1879 to the Church and Parish some 
of the larger were: one thousand dollars from Mrs. Wyman 
of Baltimore toward the expense of moving and renovating 
the Church, and seven hundred dollars for the same object 
from Dr. Israel Whitney Lyon, a generous benefactor of this 
Church and Parish at other times. 

^ In 1870 this house was the home of William Gilbert Jones, better known as 
William Jones, an old-school mason, road builder and town officer. The property was 
owned in 191 1 by Rupert D. G. O'Leary. 

^ This open Bible, on a large disk of different shades of blue and gold, was lost 
to posterity during a renewal of the tinting of the ceiling. It was covered up or 
destroyed, which was an act of vandalism, for it harmonized admirably with the 
new cream-tinted ceiling. 



2o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Of the earlier gifts was the eight-day clock presented in 
1837 by Ebenezer Fisher, Jr., of Dedham. In 1887 James 
Mackintosh raised a considerable sum of money and paid 
off the mortgage on the meeting-house and land. He con- 
tributed liberally himself, as is his custom, and devoted 
much time to interesting others. To complete the vestry, 
which was dedicated October 14, 1888, five hundred dollars 
were contributed through the Rev. Solon W. Bush. There 
seems to be no doubt that this money was the gift of either 
Mr. Bush or of his esteemed wife, although he did not 
admit it. 

The furnishing of the vestry was by donations, as was the 
improvement of the interior of the meeting-house at other 
times. In 1893 the Parish received under the will of Mrs. 
Mary B, Emmons six acres of land, which in 1896 was sold 
for $1500. There was no attempt to heat the meeting-house 
until 1799, when a stove was set up; the first furnace was 
procured in the autumn of 1858. The meeting-house was 
equipped with electric lights in 1898, and the vestry, or 
chapel, in 1902. 

Henry Michael M°Intosh wrote the following in regard 
to the first meeting-house in the West Precinct: "My 
Father bought a meeting house located at West Needham, 
took it down and removed it to the land opposite of the now 
Rollins house, except three of the Porches, which were 
placed where the house now stands and made the body of 
the house. The sounding board was put over the front door. 
The meeting house contained much timber, oak joist, oak 
boards, oak clapboards, and thin oak boards split and spread 
open for lathing, blacksmith made wrought nails &c. The 
high pews were made of nice pine panel with turned rounds 
set in near top. The porch house was finished up as much 
as could be out of the building removed. The sounding 
board was nicely made, and after it had been a part of the 
Rollins house for years it was taken down, as I was informed, 
and removed to the parish vestry." Michael M'^Intosh 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 207 

used a part of the material from the meeting-house in build- 
ing a barn and some shops. 

In a list of the names of contributors to the Massachusetts 
Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, printed in the 
appendix to the Rev. Daniel Dana's sermon, May 28, 18 17, 
are the following: — Dea. H. Fuller, Mrs. C. Fuller, Miss 
Coolidge, Mrs. R. Noyes, all of Needham, and the Cent 
Society of Sherburne and the Cent Society of Needham, both 
of the societies contributing through the Rev. Mr. Noyes. 
Mrs. C. Fuller was doubtless Charlotte, wife of Dea. Heze- 
kiah, and Mrs. R. Noyes was Rebecca, wife of the Rev. 
Thomas Noyes. 

TYTHINGMEN 

In Needham the original and usual number of tythingmen 
was two, but occasionally three or four. In 18 15 the town 
increased the number of tythingmen from two to ten, 
which seemed quite unnecessary, as these officers had then 
been without duties for many years. At the annual meeting 
March 4, 1 8 16, a committee, consisting of Azariah Walker, 
Benjamin Slack, Esq., and David Mills, reported that "it 
is necessary to have Six Tithingmen", and they were ac- 
cordingly chosen, but in 1817 the number was again two. 
The tythingmen were not abolished in Needham till 1867, 
and Everett Johnson Eaton, John Kingsbury, Freeman 
Phillips and Richard Boynton, chosen at the annual meeting 
in 1866, were the last ones. 



DIVISION OF THE TOWN INTO TWO PARISHES 

On May 28, 1764, the town heard the petition of Dr. 
William Deming and others "Relating to Removing y^ meet- 
ing Houfe in Said Needham: To the Centre of the Town", 
but rejected the proposition then and again the following 
March. In May, 1765, and March, 1768, the town refused 
to have a plan made "to find where the Center of the Town 



2o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

is", and on the latter date declared against "Seting of Mi 
Jonathan Deming; and Some others to Natick": 

On November 4, 1773, the town was opposed to division, 
but heard the petition of Mr. Deming and others, who asked 
for a committee of five: — two chosen by each party, and 
a chairman acceptable to both. 

The town would not have such a committee, or build at 
the geographical centre, and on February 7, 1774, chose 
Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. Jonathan Day, Nathaniel 
Fisher, Timothy Newell and Josiah Eaton to answer a 
petition requesting the General Court "To State a place 
to Set the Meeting Houfe Upon in Said Town". Twice in 
1774 motions to reconsider the vote locating the meeting- 
house were defeated, and on June 17 the town declined to 
accept the judgment of the General Court, but directed the 
selectmen to answer Mr. Deming and the others. On July 
4th and nth the town refused to reopen the question of the 
location, each time by a tie vote, viz., 44 to 44 and 43 to 43. 

On October 3 the petitioners were denied exemption 
either from their share of the cost of the new meeting-house 
or of Mr. West's salary, but the same day the vote for a 
"DIftlnct Precinct" and another meeting-house was carried, 
and a proposition that the meeting-house, already raised, 
"be Removed to Baker's field (So Called)" was rejected. 
Reconsideration of these votes was defeated the next March, 
but "Cron'" Nathaniel Fisher, Col. M<=Intosh, Amos Fuller, 
Dea. John Fisher, Henry Dewing and Josiah Eaton were 
chosen a committee to make "Propofels of Reconciliation to 
the Wefterly part of Said Town; Relating to the Meeting 
Houfe Lately Erected in Needham". 

On March 30 this committee reported unanimously in 
favor of freeing from payments toward the new meeting- 
house that portion of the town that "Lyeth at a Greater 
Diftance weftwardly from the Meeting Houfe" than "that 
part of the Town that Lyeth Eaftwardly of the Meeting 
Houfe, where the meeting Houfe Now Stands". The report 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 209 

was not accepted, and at the earlier March meeting the town 
had declined to appoint a committee to settle the boundary 
between the parishes. 

On April 8, 1776, the town directed its selectmen and 
John Slack, Capt. Robert Smith and Ebenezer Newell to 
answer the petition of the West, then before the General 
Court, and in June chose another committee to attempt 
a reconciliation, offering the West equal privileges in 
the meeting-house "without any Co ft of Building Said 
Houfe". 

The foregoing abstract of the action taken by the town 
in reference to its division into two parishes is sufficiently 
complete to give an idea of the attitude of the citizens. The 
petition of 1774, with some particulars attending its con- 
sideration, follow in this narrative. 

On February 3, 1774, the petition of Jonathan Deming 
and others, inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham, 
was before the General Court. They asked for a committee 
to decide where the meeting-house should be erected, or 
that there should be two parishes. They were ordered to 
serve notice on the Town of Needham to show cause on the 
17th why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted. 
On that day the Council dismissed the petition, but the 
House appointed a committee on the 24th to consider the 
matter, and this committee reported on May 28 that the 
meeting-house ought to be at "the second centre, about 
three quarters of a mile Northwest of the place where the 
old House stood", but did not think it best for the General 
Court to interfere. The petition was dismissed. General 
Court Records, Archives, Vol. 30, pp. 139 and 177. 

On June 10, 1774, the petition for the division of the 
town into two parishes was before the General Court, 
and a notice was ordered for the 21st if the Court was then 
sitting, otherwise for the third Wednesday of the next 
Session. 

The original Petition for the Division of the Town 



210 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

into Two Parishes is in the State Archives and reads as 
follows : 

To His Excellency Thomas Gage EsqF Cap* General and 
Governor in Chief in and Over His Majestys Province of 
Mafsachufetts Bay, The Honorable Council and Houfe of 
Reprefentatives, in General Court Afsembled the 26*^ Day 
of May. A.D. 1774. 

The Memorial of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the West- 
wardly Part of the Town of Needham, Humbly Sheweth. 

That your Memorialits have for a Number of years Past 
Attended the Publick Worship of God in the Meeting Houfe 
in 8? Town Lately Confumed by Fire, which stood more 
than a Mile from the Centre of the Town, and have thereby 
been put to Extraordinary Cost and Difficulty, which has 
been a very great hardship, Especially to thofe Living 
Remote. Some being more than Four Miles Distant 
therefrom and others within the Limits more than Six 
Miles. 

And whereas a Vote hath been Pafsed (by a Trifling 
Majority) at a Town Meeting, for Erecting a New Meeting 
Meeting Houfe where the Former Houfe stood, and they 
Perfist therein. Notwithstanding Repeated Applications 
hath been made for Erecting it at, or near, the Centre of 
the Town, and the Opinion of a Committee from this Hon- 
orable Court for the Same; under which Cruel hardship and 
Opprefsion, Your Memorialists must Remain Remedilefs 
without the Interpofition of this Honorable Court. They 
therefore most humbly Pray that the said Town of Needham 
may be Divided into Two Seperate Parishes in Such Man- 
ner & Form as to Your Excellency and Honors, in your 
great Wisdom, shall be thought most Convenient; and your 
most Humble Suppliants (as in Duty bound) shall Ever 
Pray. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



211 



Stephen Hunting 
Mofes Bullard 
Eliphalet Kingsbery 
Josiah Upham 

Saml Kilton 
David Trull 
John Edes 

Jonathan Smith Jun' 
Joseph Haws 
Samuel Danils 
Ephraim Stevens 
Robert Cunningham 

David Smith 
Samuel Brown 
Jonathan Smith 
John Nefs 
Aaron Smith 
Thomas Lescombe 
Wfj Fuller 
Peter Jenison 
Jefse Kingsbery 
Jeremiah Haws 
Lemuel Pratt 



Jonathan Deming 
Sam^i Daggett 
Jacob Parker 

Sam®? Hunting 
Joseph Mudg 
Daniel Hunting 
John Fuller 
John Fuller Jun 
wodow Sarah Edes 
Lemuel Brackett 
Samuel Pratt 

Sam^i Brackett 

Jonas Mills 

Daniel gould 

Isaac Mills 

Samuel Greenwood 

Amos Mills 

Wedow Hanah Mackintier 

Nathaniel Dewing 

Jofiah Ware 

Eleazer Kingsbery 

Caleb Kingsbery 

Sam?* Mackentier 
Wedow Martha Dewing 
Thomas Broad 
Thoder Broad 
Ephraim Bullard 
Mofes Feltt 



Read in the House June 3, and committed to Capt. Brown 
of Abington, Col. Whetcomb and Mr. Freeman of Harwich. 

Read in the Council June 8, and George Leonard and 
Jedediah Preble, Esqs., were joined to the committee of 



212 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the House. On the 9th the Council ordered the petitioners 
to notify the Town of Needham for the third Wednesday 
of the next Session of the Court; concurred in by the House 
the loth. Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 725, 726. 

Those desiring a new parish sought the attention of the 
General Court during the War of the Revolution, but were 
informed that the Court had other business, and their re- 
quest was not granted till April 28, 1778. 

THE FIRST PARISH ORGANIZED 

The First Parish in Needham was organized on November 
9, 1778, with Colonel Mcintosh as moderator. The officers 
corresponded to those of the Town, which the Parish super- 
seded in ecclesiastical matters. The Parish was assumed to 
be identical with East Needham. From 1778 to 1892 the 
parish committee consisted of three persons, with the ex- 
ception of 183 1-5 (five years), when the number was five.^ 

Until 1834 all the real estate within the limits of a parish, 
wherever the owners lived, was taxable for Church purposes, 
subject to the laws of 181 1 and 1823. These laws permitted 
persons to file with the town clerk certificates of connection 
with another religious body, and by this means have their 
ministerial tax paid to the minister of their choice. These 
certificates were duly recorded by the town clerk. After 
the division into two parishes the assessors of each had the 
same powers as to "Minister's Rates" that the town asses- 
sors had previously possessed, and a considerable number 
of the First Parish rate books and valuation lists are pre- 
served. In 1874 the time of the annual parish meeting was 

^ Mr. Augustus Eaton was a member of the committee of the First Parish for 
1857-74, 1880-9, inclusive (twenty-eight years), a length of service unequalled in 
its annals. Until 1892 Mrs. Diana Persis Washburn was the only woman ever 
elected on the parish committee. She was a member from December, 1875 to 
December, 1879. Dea. Otis Morton, Jr., was one of the parish committee for 
1858-64, 1866-83 (twenty-five years), Dea. Isaac Shepard for 1783, 1788-90, 
1794-1802, 1806, 1811-19 (twenty-three years), and Maj. Ebenezer M'^Intosh for 
1805, 1807, 1812-15, 1817-19, 1821-6, 1830-2 (eighteen years). 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 213 

changed from March to December, but is now In January. 
The First Church in Needham still (191 1) has the dual 
organization of Church and Parish. 

The Dedham Historical Register for 1891 contains an 
account of the Clerks and of the Treasurers of the First 
Parish, and this periodical for 1892 and 1893 has a summary 
of the Parish records to 1842. In the volume for 1892 
there Is also a list of the Deacons of the First Church, with 
brief biographical notices. All of these articles were con- 
tributed to the Register by George Kuhn Clarke. 

The following are samples of some of the early votes 
passed by the First Parish: — 

December 15, 1778. "The Hinds Seats In the body 
Voted by the Parish for the Negors to Set In"; i8th. "It 
was Voted by the Parish that no Hats Shall be hanged on 
the Gallery Pillows, The Gallery Seats from the East AUe 
to the front Voted by the Parish to the Singers". 

The First Parish had to assume the debts Incurred by 
the town in building the meeting-house. Adam Blackman, 
the builder, sued the parish, with the result that it was some 
years before his claims were settled, and that the parish 
was long In debt. 

Neglect to swear the parish officers led to an Act of the 
General Court, January 20, 1790, legalizing the doings of 
the First Parish for a series of years. 

Within a few years of the division It is probable that the 
people of both parishes realized that the support of two 
Churches was a burden, and the efforts for reunion, as 
revealed In the State Archives, Indicate that such a plan 
was not unpopular. 

On March 12, 1792, the town voted "to petition the 
general Court to Send a Committee to join Needham and 
Natick into two Towns more Convenient then they now 
are. So that two meeting housen may accomodate both 
towns", and on May 7 chose Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. 



214 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Joslah Newell and William Farris a committee to act with a 
committee appointed by Natick. The latter town selected 
Hezekiah Broad, Thomas Broad and Joshua Fisk, and the 
two committees petitioned under date of June 5. 

In this document they refer to the irregular shape and 
the poverty of the two towns, the fact that people had a 
right to sign over to the First Parish, although living six or 
seven miles from its meeting-house. Moreover they said 
that Natick could not decide where to locate its meeting- 
house, and that the people of the West Precinct in Needham 
were unable to finish theirs. They express the hope of 
"restoring & establishing peace & enabling us to support 
the public worship of God in a decent manner", and allege 
that Needham was too poor ever to have had two parishes, 
and that Natick was involved in endless controversies about 
the meeting-house. 

On June 11, a committee was appointed by the General 
Court in answer to this application, but its signers were to 
bear the expense of viewing the territory they described. 
Even free entertainments at Bullard's tavern failed to secure 
a favorable report, and the petitioners had leave to with- 
draw. While this matter was pending the First Parish 
chose Colonel M'=Intosh and eight other leading members "to 
wait on the Committee Chosen by the General Court for 
the purpose of joining the Two Towns of Needham and 
Natick so as Two meeting houses would Accomodate both 
Towns". 

At the same parish meeting, which was on August 23, 
1792, a conciliatory vote was passed, looking to a reunion 
with the West Precinct, but under date of March 7, 1793, 
forty-five men and women of that precinct sent to the Gen- 
eral Court a bitter protest against the schemes to wipe out 
the "Second Parish". So far from exciting the sympathy 
of the Legislators, the petitioners were answered by a report 
that the West Parish "should be dissolved", and a change 
was proposed in the boundaries of the towns involved, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 215 

similar to that actually effected in 1797. In this report the 
familiar bounds were referred to, viz., Damon's Brook, Sta- 
tion Tree, etc. According to the report, the ownership of 
the West Meeting-house was to be divided between the 
Town of Needham, and the individuals who were to be 
joined to Natick. The rest of the inhabitants of the West 
Precinct were to have equal rights in the East Meeting- 
house with those people of the East heretofore attending 
there. 

Liberty was given to bring in a bill, which the Senate 
amended on March 12, dealing with the disposition of the 
unfinished meeting-house. Later the measure was killed, 
doubtless to the relief of the people opposed to the union, 
although in 1799 a petition was received at the State House 
from residents of the West Precinct desiring changes such 
as they had resisted in 1792 and 1793. 

Senate files 1537, 1-3, 2523, and House files 
3623, 3808, 3900. 

At the April meeting in 1820, acting under article seven, 
the town chose by ballot Jonathan Ellis, Col. Chester 
Adams, Capt. Gay, Leonard Kingsbury, Capt. Lyon, Enoch 
Fisk, Esq., and George Fisher to report to the town in May 
as to a plan for uniting the town in one Society for public 
worship. 

THE WEST PRECINCT 

In 1774 money was subscribed by many persons to build 
a meeting-house in what is now Wellesley, and a Precinct 
was organized January 19, 1775, with Capt. Lemuel Pratt 
as moderator. It was legally organized July 6, 1778, with 
Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery presiding, and dissolved April 4, 
1870, when Augustus Fuller was the moderator. 

Its records are in fine condition, and there is much infor- 
mation as to the West Precinct in the excellent "History of 
the Wellesley Congregational Church", by Rev. Edward 
Herrick Chandler, 1898. 



In the spring of 1709 the town of Dedham, in answer to 
a petition, had granted £8 to pay for preaching north of the 
river, and during the winter ending in 171 1 Mr. Hale is 
said to have preached there, at the expense of the inhabitants. 
During the first eight years of the town of Needham the 
meetings in reference to building a house for worship and 
securing a minister were numerous, occupying more space 
in the records than other affairs. It is a considerable task 
to condense the facts, and yet include details that may be 
of interest. At the first meeting of the new town a subscrip- 
tion was taken to secure preaching for four months, and at 
the next, December 11, 171 1, Sergeant John Fisher, John 
Smith, Sr., Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell were chosen 
to engage a minister, the Rev. Josiah Oaks, A.M. (Harvard 
1708), then acting as their pastor, to be their first choice. 
On March 10, 1711/12, the selectmen were to agree with 
him to remain with them "if we can atain the Houfe of 
Robert Fuler to meete in upon y^ Lords Dayes for a year". 
This house is one of the oldest in town, and is now owned by 
Charles H. Snow, having been for many years the summer 
home of Miss Annie M. Clarke, the well-known leading 
lady at the Boston Museum. 

On June 12, 171 2, as Mr. Oaks declined to stay, the town 
voted a rate of £25 to pay for preaching, including what 
was due Ensign Robert Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and 
Thomas Metcalf for entertaining Mr. Oaks, and also voted 
to engage Mr. Deming for three months. The latter's 
Christian name does not appear in our records, but he was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 217 

presumably Identical with David Deming, A.M. (Harvard 
1700), later the minister In Medfield. 

On August 12 the town offered Mr. Deming £50 and his 
wood to preach for a year with a view to settlement, and 
Lieut. Fisher, Benjamin Mills, Sr., John Smith, Sr., Robert 
Cook and Richard Moore were to negotiate with him. On 
October 29 the town voted to pay Robert Fuller twelve 
pence per week for the use by Mr. Deming of a portion of 
his house and barn, with the condition that In case Mr. 
Fuller wanted his little room in the spring he should pro- 
vide Mr. Deming with another study. 

In March Mr. Deming with his horse and cow, which 
had been kept at the town's expense, left Mr. Fuller's, and 
on March 16, 17 12/3, the town by forty votes formally gave 
him a call. This action was perhaps the result of the appoint- 
ment at the annual town meeting, on March 2, of a committee 
of four to advise with the Reverend Elders with regard to 
Mr. Deming. A salary of £60 and wood was offered him, 
together with a settlement of £60, which was to be paid 
before December i, 1713. On May 11 Lieut. Fisher, Ensign 
Cook and Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen collectors of 
Mr. Deming's salary, and by direction of the selectmen, 
December 29, Fisher was to pay £9, 6s. direct to Mr. 
Deming, Cook was to pay £8, 13s., 3d., and Kingsbery 
£6, 5s,, 3d. to the selectmen, but Constable Mills com- 
pleted the collection. Mr. Deming declined after long 
negotiation. 

Of the numerous committees chosen from 1713 to 1720 to 
supply the pulpit and to seek advice of the "Reverend 
Elders", only a few will be mentioned. There were no less 
than twenty-one other committees, usually consisting of 
three men, but occasionally of more, and Ensign Cook, later 
a captain, served on nine of these committees, Benjamin 
Mills, Sr., on eight, Lieut. John Fisher, later a captain, and 
Timothy Kingsbery on seven each. Sergeant Joseph Daniel!, 
Jeremiah Woodcock, John Smith, Sr., and Ebenezer Ware 



2i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

on six each. Some of these committees were important, 
even when their efforts were fruitless, and the men serving 
on them were leaders in the community. 

A minority was opposed to Mr. Deming, and a Council 
of Elders met in Needham the second Wednesday of Septem- 
ber, 1714, to adjust the difficulties. Messrs. Robert Breck, 
A.M., of Marlborough, Joseph Belcher, A.M., of Dedham, 
Peter Thacher, A.M., of Milton, and John Swift, A.M., of 
Framingham were invited by the town, and Mr. Deming 
was to select others, but perhaps did not, as he left town 
soon after, and on April 20, 1717, receipted in full for services 
in Needham. The people seem to have been discouraged 
as to obtaining a minister, and on November 16, 1714, they 
appointed a committee to consult the noted Doctors of 
Divinity Increase and Cotton Mather, the Rev. Ebenezer 
Pemberton, A.M., of the Old South Church in Boston, and 
Messrs. Belcher, Thacher and John Danforth, A.M., the 
latter of Dorchester. With the three last named they con- 
ferred at other times. In December £30 were voted to pay 
for preaching, and at the annual meeting, March, 1714/15, 
after listening to the written advice of the three ministers 
last mentioned, the town voted to hear three candidates sug- 
gested by them. Lieutenant Cook, Sergeant Daniell, Joseph 
Boyden, Samuel Parker, George Robinson, Joseph Mills 
and James Kingsbery were at this time the committee to 
find a minister. April 13, 1715, was appointed a day 
for fasting and prayer, and Benjamin Mills and John 
Smith were to secure the assistance of the "Elders". The 
selection of a day to especially invoke the Divine help 
in securing a minister was customary in later times in 
Needham. 

On April 19, 1715, the town considered the names of four 
possible candidates, and the choice was between the Rev. 
Samuel Terry, A.M. (Harvard 1710), and the Rev. Mr. Crag- 
head. Mr. Terry won both on a ballot and by a hand 
vote, but declined the call, although there was a liberal 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 219 

subscription ^ toward his settlement, which was to be £80. 
Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Joseph 
Boyden were chosen to negotiate with the "worthy mr 
Terry". On August 23 the town called Mr. Craghead, but 
without result. On June 6, 1716, the town considered the 
names of Messrs. Perkins, Allen, Clark and Crocker, but did 
nothing further than to appoint a committee to consult 
with the Rev. Mr. Belcher of Dedham, the Rev. Mr. Baxter 
of Medfield and the Rev. John Cotton, A.M., of Newton. 

In November, 1716, £50 were voted to "Soport & uphould 
the worshlpt of god", and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Ebenezer 
Ware were to ask the Fellows of Harvard College to furnish 
them with a minister for four months. In December an 
attempt was made to obtain the services of Mr. Walter, 
but with what success does not appear. 

In January, 1718, a rate of £25 was voted to pay ministers 
and for their entertainment, but probably there were many 
Sundays at this period when no one officiated. On April 15 
the town met to hear the negative answer of Mr. Spear, and 
appropriated £60 for preaching. In November the select- 
men, who acted as a committee to supply the pulpit when 
there was no special committee, agreed to go to the college 
for a minister. 

Early in 1718/19 Joslah KIngsbery and John Fisher, Jr., 
were paid for keeping ministers over Sunday, which Indi- 
cates that they had as good houses and lived as comfortably 
as any. On July 22, 1718, the town called Mr. Elmer, 
probably Daniel Elmer, A.M. (Yale 1713), and sent a 
committee to consult Messrs. Belcher, Tweft, Breck and 
Loverlng. The call to Mr. Elmer was repeated August 13, 
a salary of £70 with the, use of the Ministerial land and his 
firewood was offered him, together with a settlement of 
£100, but In vain, although a committee was named to get 

* This subscription list is at the end of the first volume of town records, and was 
chiefly of money, but Thomas Fuller, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Israel Mills 
gave "in Sawing," Zachariah Mills "in Smith work," Hezekiah Broad "in board," 
Robert Fuller "in Labor or timber" and Josiah Newell in work. 



220 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the Rev. Dr. Mather and Mr. Wallsworth to hear their 
differences. On May 13, 1719, £54 were voted for preaching, 
and Wednesday, June 10, was set apart for fasting and 
prayer. Messrs. Belcher, Baxter and Cotton were requested 
to assist on the fast day, and three of the first citizens were 
a committee for "setin these elders". 

On July I the town voted to meet on the 29th, and to 
have present as advisers Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, William 
Williams, A.M., the latter of Weston, and Cotton, and to 
call a minister, which they did in the person of Nathaniel 
Prentice, A.M. (Harvard 17 15). Mr. Prentice gave a nega- 
tive answer to the committee, which consisted of Captain 
Fisher, Lieutenant Cook and Timothy Kingsbery. 

On March 11, 1719/20 (which date, like many others, is 
written new style, although the books appear to be ancient), 
the town treasurer had made payments to the following 
ministers, viz.. Prentice, Messenger, Wigglesworth, Thomas 
Robe, Townsend, Foxcroft, Baass, Cook, Sparrowhawk, 
Seaver and Pierepont, and to Lieut. Cook, Nathaniel Harris, 
John Fisher, Jr., Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Kingsbery for 
"Keping" them. On December 4, 1719, the town asked 
the help of Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, Cotton and Allen, and 
appointed Captain Fisher, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller and 
Josiah Newell to secure the attendance of these Elders at 
10 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, December 29, at 
which time the town unanimously called the Rev. Jonathan 
Townsend, A.M., offering him £80 per year for his salary 
and a settlement of £100. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook and 
Jeremiah Woodcock were to arrange with Mr. Townsend, 
who accepted January 25, 1719/20. 

MR. TOWNSEND'S MINISTRY 

Mr. Townsend's letter is of considerable length, dignified 
and well written, but according to the copy in our town 
book he dated it new style, which is unlikely. He was then 
only twenty-two years old, a native of Lynn, and a graduate 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 221 

from Harvard College In the class of 1716. This letter was 
read to the town February 3, and a committee of eight was 
chosen to advise with Mr. Townsend and Mr. Belcher as 
to the day for the ordination, and to Inform the people 
when Mr. Townsend "will come to dwell among us". Any 
one familiar with the records can guess very closely the mem- 
bership of the committees appointed at this period by the 
town to deal with either Church or secular affairs. The eight 
included, almost as a matter of course, Capt. Fisher, Lieut. 
Cook, Benjamin Mills, Sr., and Timothy KIngsbery. On 
February 25, 1720, there was a town meeting to plan for 
the ordination. In addition to those who took part, a 
number of ministers were guests of the town, and Benjamin 
Mills, Jr., and Jeremiah Woodcock arranged with the Rev- 
erend Elders. John Fisher, Lieut. Cook, John Smith, Sr., 
John Rice, Joslah KIngsbery, Thomas Metcalf and Timothy 
KIngsbery were the general committee to take charge of 
the ordination. 

The following is verbatim from the original Church book 
written by Mr. Townsend : — 

Jonathan Townfend's Chh. Book. 
Bought May 19, 1720. 

s. d. 
Pret: 2/ 6. 
The new style took place SepF 2. 1752- when eleven days 
were omitted - and y° next day was called SepF 13 — 

Title Page. THE 

RECORDS 

OF 

The CHURCH of CHRIST 

in 

NEEDHAM 

Kept by Jonathan Townfend for his own Service, Ufe, & 
Satiffaction. -7720.- Jets 16.4. And they delivered them 
the decrees for to keep &c: 2 Chron : 15.12. And they en- 
tred into a Covenant to feek the Lord God of their Fathers, 



222 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

with all their heart, & with all their Soul: 14. And they 
fware unto the Lord - . Jer. 50.5. They Shall afk the way 
to Zion with their faces thitherward, faying. Come and 
let us joyn our felves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant 
that fhall not be forgotten. 

Page I of the 

Records. Annales Needhamenfes Ecclefiafticae. 

The Church = Covenant. 

Wee whofs Names are hereunto fubfcribed apprehending 
our Selves called of God to join together in Church=Commun- 
ion do acknowledge our unworthinefs of fuch a priviledge 
and our inability to keep Covenant with God, or to perform 
any Spirituall Duty unlefs Chrift shall enable us thereunto, 
and in humble Dependance on free grace for Divine Afsift- 
ance and Acceptance, wee do now thankfully lay hold on 
his Covenant, and would choofs the Things that pleafe 
him. Wee declare our Serious Belief of the Chriftian Re- 
ligion, as contained in the Sacred Scriptures, and with fuch 
a View thereof as the Confefsion of Faith in our Churches 
has exhibited; heartily refolving to conform our lives unto 
the Rules of that Holy Religion as long as wee live in the 
World. Wee give up our Selves unto the Lord Jehovah who 
is Father, Son, & Holy Spirit; and avouch him this Day to 
be our God, our Father, our Saviour, & our Leader, and 
receive him as our Portion. Wee give up our Selves unto 
the Blefsed Jefus who is the Lord Jehovah, and adhere to 
him as the Head of his Church, and rely on him as our 
Prophet, Prieft and King to bring us unto eternall Glory. 
Wee acknowledge our indifpenfible Obligations to glorify 
our God in all the Duties of a Godly, Sober, and a Righteous 
Life; and particularly in the Duties that we ought to dif- 
charge as in a Church-State, and as a Body of people afso- 
ciated for an Obedience unto him and an Enjoyment of 
him in all the Ordinances of the Gofpell: and wee therefore 
depend upon his gracious afsiftances for our faithfull Dif- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 223 

charge of the Duties thus incumbent on us. Wee do alfo 
give our Selves to one another in the Lord, defiring, intending 
and (with dependance upon help from on high) engaging 
and covenanting to walk together as a Church of Chrift in 
the Faith and Order of the Gofpell as far as wee fhall have 
the Same revealed unto us: Confcientioufly attending the 
Word of God, the Sacraments of the New Testament, the 
Difcipline of his Kingdom and all his H0I7 Inftitutions in 
Communion with one another; lovingly watching over one 
another and watchfully avoiding all finfull ftumbling- 
blocks and contentions as becomes a people whom the Lord 
has bound up together in a Bundle of Life. Att the fame 
time wee alfo prefent our offspring with us unto the Lord, 
purpofmg with his help to do our part in the Methods of a 
Religious education, that they may be the Lords. And all 
this wee do flying to the blood of the Everlafting Covenant 
for the pardon of our many Sins; and praying that the Glo- 
rious Lord who is the Great Shepherd would delight to 
dwell in the midft of us, and prepare & ftrengthen us for 
every good Work to do his Will, working in us that which 
will be well pleafmg to him. To be glory for ever & ever. 
Amen. Needham. March 18. 1719/20. 

Jonathan Townfend Pallor. William Mills 

Benjamin Mills Senr Deacon John Pain Junr 

John Pain Senf Samuell Wilfon 

Robert Cook Jonathan Parker 

Benjamin Mills Jun. John Fifher 

Deacon Jeremiah Woodcock Stephen Hunting 

Thomas Metcalfe Samuell Bacon 

Deacon Timothy Kingsbury Jofiah Newell 

Jofeph Boyden Nathanaell Tolman 

Deacon Eleazar Kingsbury ^ Jofeph Barber 

^ In the book all these signers are starred except Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, who 
outlived Mr. Townsend, and died January 27, 1767. Lydia Metcalf, who died 
December 18, 1770, aged ninety-three years, was the last survivor of the first 
female members, although Deliverance Parker died March 11, 1770, aged ninety- 
nine years. 



224 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

E vivis cefserunt Stelllgerl 
Needham. March 20. 1719/20. — This Day the Rever- 
end M? Jofeph Belcher Paftor of y Church of Chrift in 
Dedham came to gather the Church In Town abovef?. 
He preach'd all day, after prayer after Sermon In the 
Afternoon he read the Probations of Lieut: Rob\ Cook. 
Saw}} Bacon, Jofeph Boyden, & W'? Ddills who were then 
gathered with us Into our Number, though they never 
were In full Communion with any Church before. Then 
my difmifslon from Lynn, Timothy Kingfbury^s from ye 
old South Church in Bofton and /ow'^ Parkers from old 
Roxhury were read, then the Covenant was read that was 
fign'd 2 days before by 20 perfons, & wee declar'd a Church 
of Chrift which we were not before, after this Mr Belcher 
pray'd for a Blefsing upon us in a short [Illegible] prayer. 
Wee Sang Stanza In Pf: 135. The Proclamation for a 
Solomn publick [line illegible] 

Page 2 Annales Needhamenfes Ecclefiafticae. 

March 2j. iyiQ/20. I was ordained a Paftor of the Church 
of Chrift in Needham by the Reverend Mefsieurs Joseph 
Belcher of Dedha?n, Jofeph Baxter of Medfield, John Swift of 
Framingham & Will"} Williams of Weftoivn. M'' Belcher 
gave mee my Charge, & M'' Baxter the Right hand of 
Fellowfhip, In the Name & at the defire of the Churches 
that were prefent by their Delegates. Mr Cotton of Newtown 
with his Church were fent to & accordingly came, but there 
not being room in the Pulpit for him, he acted nothing In 
the matter of my Ordination. NB I preach'd from Rom: 
1.15.16. 

June ig, 1720. Wee received to our Number & Commun- 
ion, our Sifters [Married & unmarried] that were difmifsed 
from the refpective Churches they belong'd to. Thefe were 
Rebecca Fifher, Abigail Smith, Dorothy Dewing, Submit Cook, 
Sarah Kingfbury, Mercy Parker, Mary Woodcock, Lydia 
Metcalf, Lydia Ockinton, Sarah Tombling, Mary Barber, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 225 

Anne Pain, Sufanna Dezving, Sufanna Kingfbury, Rebecca 
Hunti7ig, Elizabeth Wilfon, i^ Sufanna Pain from Dedham, 
Deliverance Parker from Newton & Hannah Parker from 
Roxbury. 

On the fame Day the Congregation joyned with the Church 
in contributing fomthing to defray our Charges in providing 
Vefsells, Hnnen &c. [necefsary things] for the Lords Table. 

s. 

& a bout 6^ 10. was gathered, or £5 = 93 = o 

July 5, i'/20 The Ordinance of the Lords Supper was 
firft admiftred in this Church of Chrift: Wee had near or 
about 50 Communicants, a few befides our felves, twas a 
comfortable fight, a pretty Show, confidering our infancy. 
The Lord increafs us both in Number & holinefs. On the 
fame day Deacon Timothy Kingfbury^s Daughter Ruth was 
baptized. 

Aug. 7. i/'20. I propof'd to the Church (before the Con- 
gregation) the having the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
adminftred once in Six Weeks, & I took their Silence for a 
confent to and compliance with the Propofall. 

On April 20, 1720, Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Newell 
were chosen deacons, but as they both declined the choice 
was made, on May 17, of Jeremiah Woodcock and Timothy 
Kingsbery. Deacon Woodcock resigned January 7, 1729/30, 
because it was "not agreeable to the mind of the Church 
that the Deacons be ordain'd", and Eleazer Kingsbery 
succeeded him on February 4. 

Both Kingsberys were deposed on January 9, 1746/7; 
Eleazer's offence was that he "went over to y® Anabaptists". 
The same day Josiah Newell, Jr., Joshua Ellis and John 
Fisher, Jr., were elected deacons. Deacon Ellis lived in the 
Springfield Parish, Dover, and in 1758 assisted to organize 
a Church there. Deacon Newell resigned November 21, 
1783, and Deacon Fisher died October 17, 1788. 

Isaac Shepard was chosen November 21, 1783, and died 
August 22, 1 8 19. Col. William M'=Intosh served from April 



226 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

19, 1790 to November 22, 1803, when he resigned. Lieut.- 
Col. Silas Alden, irreverently known as "Old Growl", was 
elected in his place, and died in office February 22, 1826. 

Zachariah Cushman was deacon from September 21, 1819, 
to his death June 11, 1826, and George Fisher from Septem- 
ber 21, 1819, to his decease, November 13, 1845. Newell 
Smith was chosen deacon May 31, 1822, but declined, 
although he bore the title until his death, October 10, 1866. 
He was sometimes called "Deacon Could Be", but the 
town records give him the title without qualification. Jon- 
athan Newell was deacon from August 25, 1822, until he 
died on July 8, 1853, the Rev. Daniel Kimball, A.M., Sep- 
tember I, 1826 to June 3, 1859, when he resigned, Capt. 
Ellsha Lyon from September i, 1826 to May 19, 1849, 
when he resigned, Thomas Kingsbury, Esq., and Timothy 
Daniell were chosen in July, 1849; Deacon Kingsbury died 
May 14, 1859, and Deacon Daniell March 5, 1894, his resigna- 
tion of August 5, 1859, never having been accepted, although 
his later years were passed in Roxbury. Alvin Fuller and 
George Gay Stevens were elected deacons June 3, 1859; the 
former's resignation was accepted June i, 1872, as he had 
joined the new Unitarian Society in Grantville, and Deacon 
Stevens died November 30, 1875. O^i^ Morton was deacon 
from June i, 1872, to his decease, June 2, 1890. The Dedham 
Historical Register for 1892 contains an account of the 
deacons of this Church, contributed by George Kuhn 
Clarke. 

"Oct: 7: 1730. At a Chh. Meeting at My Houfe. After 
Prayer. Voted, That Deacon Woodcock pay in speedily to 
Deacon Timothy Kingsbury the money in his hands, viz. : 20 
Shillings which Mf Mayhew gave to the Chh, and the ouer- 
plus of the Chh's Contribution, viz.: iy = i^-, or I4«=9**-. 
or thereabouts, to buy a Flagon, No usury to be paid". On 
August 20, 1738, the Church and congregation contributed 
at a special service £12 for "Sacramental Vefsels". "At 
a Chh: Meeting at my House, April. 6. 1741. Voted alfo, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 227 

That It is the expectation & desire of the Chh that the 
Deacons procure the Baptlfmal Water. But Deacon 
Eleazar Kingfbury then fignlfi'd that he refus'd to do It". 

On April 6, 1741, the Church voted to have a contribu- 
tion of the Church members of at least one shilling each 
"y? next Sacrament Day", and of six pence each on every 
other "Sacrament Day" for a year "to provide the Sacra- 
mental Elements". Days of "Fasting and Prayer" were 
occasionally observed, particularly when religion seemed at 
a low ebb, or illness was prevalent. There were six, or more, 
of these fasts from 1727 to 1744, and the record of a few of 
them win illustrate the spirit that Inspired their observance. 

^' June, 14. 1^2/. We, the Church & Congregation in this 
Place, observed a Day of Fasting and Prayer to afk for y? 
outpourings of y? Spirit of grace on the rising Generation, & 
the revival of decaying Religion. Mr — Dexter began with 
prayer in y? forenoon, M,'' Peahody preach'd from Matt: 17. 21. 
M' Baxter began with ee prayer in the Afternoon, & I 
preach'd from Deut: 30.6.^^ On November 21, of the same 
year there was a "Town-Fast, occafioned by the Earth- 
quake (Oct: 2g. 1727.) " 

Nov: 16. 1743. A Fast was observ'd In this Town upon 
the accf of the low and languishing circumstances of divers 
perfons among us; Some having been 111 for fundry months, 
& others for divers years, and Phyficlans proving of little 
or no value to 'em. M? Dexter preach'd A. M. from PJal: iig. 
g2. and Mr Peabody P. M. from Job: 5.6'." 

" Sept: 12. 1744. We in this Place obferv'd a Town-Fast, 
occasioned by SIcknefs both Inflicted & threatened. Mr 
Tyler pray'd A. M, Mf Walter preach'd from John: g. 4. 
I pray'd P. M. & Mf Peabody preach'd from Num: 16. 46." 

The substance of an able plea, made at a town meeting, 
by Mr. Townsend In behalf of the Scotch-Irish is recorded 
on the last page of the Church book, and is dated February 
18, 1723/4. To the credit of our town no attempt was 
made to expel these immigrants, who had left home to find 



228 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

freedom of worship, and many of whom became valued 
citizens here. In some other towns they had fared ill, and 
had been driven from place to place. 

Mr. Townsend had a taste for chronicling events, and 
for forty-two years he faithfully kept the records of the 
Church in a neat, but minute hand, recording two hundred 
and thirty-eight admissions to the Church, two hundred and 
nineteen marriages, one thousand and thirty baptisms, and 
the births and deaths.^ Few baptisms were recorded during 
the vacancy In the pulpit, which followed Mr. Townsend's 
ministry. Mr. West, however, chronicled one hundred and 
seven admissions to the Church, one hundred and fifty-three 
marriages and three hundred and fifty-nine baptisms for 
1764-88. The total number of baptisms recorded in the 
books of this Church to 1905 is about two thousand. The 
old Church records contain the usual accounts of Church 
meetings, the election of delegates to attend ordinations and 
installations, cases of Church discipline, and public confes- 
sions of what was called a violation of the Seventh Com- 
mandment, although technically the offence was seldom so 
serious. Perhaps the sinners afforded as much edification 
as the saints when confessions were in order. Mr. Townsend 
used Latin In the records when It seemed desirable to do so. 
He was highly esteemed by the community, and his services 
were often required in ecclesiastical councils, sometimes at 
a considerable distance. His skill as a peacemaker was 
recognized, and the following extract from the Church records 
will Illustrate an application of It at home when there was 

^ It is unfortunate that his record of births, five hundred and forty-seven in 
number, and of deaths is lost for the years 1720-48. The first birth in existing 
records is numbered five hundred and forty-eight; he did not, however, give the 
name of the child in every instance. 

This record of births and deaths, together with the marriages to 181 1, including 
some from the town books, and all of the baptisms to 1849, were prepared for the 
press by George Kuhn Clarke, and appeared in the New England Historical and 
Genealogical Register in the years 1901-3. There were eighteen hundred and fifty- 
three baptisms. The "Baptisms recorded by the Ministers, or Clerks, of the 
Church in the West Precinct in Needham, 1798-1849," numbered four hundred and 
seven, and the record of them was copied by Mr. Clarke, and appeared in the Ded- 
ham Historical Register in 1901. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 229 

a serious quarrel between the two leading citizens of the 
town. 

" March, 2g. 1736. This Day We the following perfons, 
Jonathan Townfend, Jeremiah Woodcock, Timothy Kings- 
bury, Eleazar Kingfbury, Thomas Metcalf, Jofiah Newel, 
Henry Prat, Benoni Woodward, Zechariah Mills, & Samuel 
Parker, having heard what Capt: Cook, & Capt. Fisher had 
to fay respecting the feveral matters of difference and difpute 
between them, They agreed to leave it with us, and fit down 
and abide by our advice and determination in the matter, 
and after fome difcourfe among our felves we united and 
concurr'd unanimously In y? following opinion and advice 
to 'em, viz: We, fome of yf Brethren of y? Chh here, having 
heard what Capt: Cook, & John Fisher Esqr have to fay 
about all paft matters of difference between them, do declare 
it to be our opinion that every paft difficulty and uneafmefs 
be forgiven and pafsed by by them, and we advlfe the faid 
contending brethren to bury all their differences In one com- 
mon grave of forgetfulnefs, and for the time to come to live 
and act together as brethren and Christians ought to do.' 
This advice they both thank'd us for, and accepted of: 
after this we fang Pfal: ijj. I calFd for a Tankard of Drink, 
and drank to both the heretofore contending, but now recon- 
ciled brethren, wifhing & praying, that y- peace of God which 
pafses all underftanding might keep their hearts and minds 
thro' Christ Jesus, and that they, and all of us, for the time to 
come mih live and act together in love and peace that the God of 
love and peace might be with us, to which Capt: Cook faid. 
Amen. I gave the Tankard Into Capt: Cook's hand, he 
drank himfelf, and drank to Capt: Fisher, we all drank, 
et fic finitur, so the matter ended." 

From the warrant for the town meeting on May 20, 
1754, It appears that Mr. Townsend had written a letter 
and wanted a grant of £66, 13s., 4d. "for my yearly Sup- 
port for the future & allow me Intreft for the Fourty pounds 
granted three years ago as an Arrearage. If this Shou'd 



230 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

pafs in the affirmative well But if it Shou'd pafs in the 
Negotlve Then whether the Town be willing to make up 
former Deficiencies to the amount of Sixty six pounds 
thirteen shillings & four pence for each year Viz. for the 
years 1750: 51: 52: & 53. This I expect Shou'd pafs in the 
affirmative & then the Town may expect that it will be 
there Bufinefs to Seek for Some other perfon to Supply the 
place of Minister here for the future". Undoubtedly Mr. 
Townsend's original letter was much better as a composi- 
tion than the article in the warrant. The Town voted "no" 
on the question of a salary of £66, but voted to make the 
£90^ as good as a like sum was in 1720 "according to 
the Vallow of Silver". On May 23, 1757, the town declined 
Mr. Townsend's "Perpofels", whatever they were. 

Mr. Townsend was a serious, dignified minister of the 
old school, but had tact, and held the affections of his people 
to the end. It is true the peace of the Church was inter- 
rupted about 1746, when some parishioners began to hear 
lay preachers, usually illiterate, and to seek "new lights".^ 
Mr. Townsend wrote in the Church records "On Nov: 16. 
174.8. A Chh=Meeting was attended at the Meeting- 
Houfe, y« defign of which was y? refi:oration and establifh- 
ment of peace among us, if pofsible,-But fome of the difsat- 
isfied Brethren rigidly infisting on leave and liberty to have 
illiterate Teachers among them, and to feperate from us 
when, and as often as they wou'd, the Meeting was broke up 
without obtaining the defired end. But James Smith desired 
to be reunited to us,". 

At this period the minister's salary was in arrears, as it 



* According to the records Mr. Townsend's original salary was £80, and yet 
the amount is clearly stated as £90 in 1754. 

* The New England Historic Genealogical Society has an original letter, dated 
June 12, 1747, and addressed to Mr. Townsend by the following malcontents, viz., — 
"Eleazer Kingsbery Timothy Kingsbery James Smith John Kingsbery Nath: Tole- 
man Jo^htan Smith unr william Ockinton Archabell Smith." 

The letter refers to the election of new deacons, and charges the minister with 
neglect. On June 23 a Church meeting was held to consider these "matters of 
uneafinefs," and a committee was chosen to answer the disaffected. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 231 

was difficult to collect the rates voted for him. The depre- 
ciation of the currency complicated matters, but the people 
never questioned Mr. Townsend's right to the equivalent 
of the £90 originally agreed upon. There were votes from 
year to year in reference to his salary, and to the ultimate 
payment of arrears. When the town met August 26, 1762, 
Mr. Townsend was ill, and October 14 a rate of £18 was 
voted to pay his funeral expenses; the town had supplied 
the pulpit for some weeks. On March 16, 1764, Ensign 
Eliakim Cook, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Michael Metcalf 
were appointed to make a final settlement with the heirs 
of Mr. Townsend, which they did March 10, 1766, when 
£16, IDS., 62d. was paid, discharging in full all obligations, 
including gratuities. 

Mr. Townsend died September 30, 1762, in the sixty-fifth 
year of his age and the forty-third of his ministry, and was 
buried in the old graveyard near his home. His house was 
built in 1720, and is now the residence of the writer, but 
has been much changed. In Mr. Townsend's time it lacked 
the southerly quarter, and the porches at the north and 
west. It had a pitched roof, or rather two such roofs at 
right angles, the east chimney was on the easterly side of 
the parlor, and the windows had "diamond panes". The 
alterations of the interior have been numerous, but the 
northerly and westerly rooms have either remained prac- 
tically unchanged, or have been restored by uncovering the 
old ceilings, and by putting ancient material, such as the 
oven door, back into its place. It is said that from the estate 
of his father-in-law, Capt. Gregory Sugars, Mr. Townsend 
got some money which enabled him to build this house. 
Captain Sugars commanded a squadron of thirteen sail, the 
largest of the squadrons, in the expedition against Canada 
in 1690. The land, eight acres, was probably bought from 
the heirs of Thomas Aldridge of Dedham. Mr. Townsend 
also owned twenty and one quarter acres of outlands, partly 
on North Hill, including where Charles Kingsbury Cutter 



232 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and Francis Hinckley now live. Mr. Townsend had seven 
children and a grandson born in the house that he built, 
and in which he dwelt for more than forty years, and where 
he and his wife and one daughter died. His eldest son, 
Jonathan (Harvard College 1741, A.M.), was the minister 
at Medfield, and the second son, Samuel, was prominent in 
Needham until about 1789, when he removed to Tyringham, 
Mass., where he died September 11, 1822, aged ninety- 
four years. In 1790 Samuel Townsend sold to John Clap 
for £210 his farm of fifty-five acres, with a house on the 
north side of what is now High Rock Street, near South 
Street, and with a barn and corn-barn on the south side 
of the road. Also "my Hornstall so called", three acres of 
meadow "near great Causey", and an undivided half of 
twenty acres that he owned with Eliphalet Kingsbery in 
Broad Meadow. 

Gregory, the youngest of the three sons, was loyal in the 
Revolution, fled to the British dominions north, and never 
returned, but lived in Halifax, and died there in 1798 or 1799. 
It is only in recent years that our historians have recognized 
the high character and great sacrifices made by the Loyalists 
or Tories at the time of the Revolution. While Continental 
Europe was still under feudal and despotic rule. Great 
Britain was comparatively free, and the Americans enjoyed 
more liberties than any other subjects of the British Crown. 
Open rebellion, even when petty grievances involved great 
principles, seemed desperate and foolhardy to many Ameri- 
cans, especially to those of education and social position. 
They thought the chances of successful resistance small, 
which would probably have been the case had the mother 
country been able to exert her full strength, unhampered by 
opposition at home, and by the necessity of employing troops 
and ships elsewhere. That there were some Loyalists in 
Needham, besides old Captain Faris, may be inferred from a 
sketch, written long ago, of the life of the Rev. Samuel 
West, D.D., Mr. Townsend's successor. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 233 

Six of Mr. Townsend's sermons were published, and the 
writer has seen some in manuscript. Those printed are: i. 
Two on the annual Fast, March 21, 1727/8. 2. Two on the 
deaths of Solomon Cook and Samuel Kingsbury, who were 
drowned in Boston Harbor, preached May 13, 1737. 3. One 
on the death of Thomas Gardner, Jr., killed by lightning, 
preached April 4, 1746. 4. One at the annual Convention 
of Ministers In Boston, June i, 1758. 

FROM THE DECEASE OF MR. TOWNSEND TO THE 
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WEST 

On October 4, 1762, the town voted to use the balance 
of the rates collected to supply the pulpit, and a committee 
of five was chosen to provide preaching for "Part of this 
year". It was also voted to pay "M'"Thair one of the Tutors 
at the Colledge" (the Rev. Ebenezer, Harvard 1753, A.M.) 
for preaching one Sabbath "for m"" Townfend wilft he Lay 
in his Laft Sicknefs".^ The Rev. Bunker Gay, A.M., of 
Dedham, Harvard 1760, also preached one Sunday. On 
March 14, 1763, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Eaton and 
Timothy Newell were chosen to provide preaching. After 
the death of Mr. Townsend the ministers who came to 
Needham to supply the pulpit usually stopped with his 
family, and "Madame Townfend" was paid four shillings 
per week by the town for entertaining them. In the spring 
of 1763 the Rev. Zabdiel Adams, A.M., Harvard 1759, 
officiated eight Sundays and on a Fast day for £1. 4s. per 
day, which seems to have been the usual price for "supplies". 
On September 12 the town "by Paper Votes" added Deacon 
Fisher, William Smith, Amos Fuller, Jr., and Aaron Smith, 
Jr.,^ to the committee to provide preaching, and instructed 
them to engage the Rev. Samuel West for another month. 
On December 5 "The Town have Concured with the 
Churches Choice that they have made of ml Samuel West 

^ From the town treasurer's book. 

^ This was "Hawk" Aaron, who took the place of his uncle, Lieut. Aaron, as 
the latter declined. 



234 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to take the Paftoral Charge of them by Forty Seven Votes: 
And there was Fourteen that Did not Concur with theChurch 
in there Choice of mi Samuel West". The town also voted 
Mr. West a settlement of £133, 6s., 8d., of which one half 
was to be paid the first year, and the other half the second 
year. His salary was to be £73, 6s., 8d., and Jonathan 
Deming, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Nathaniel Fisher were 
chosen to "wait on mr. West". 

During the year 1763 and the early part of 1764 the min- 
isters stopped over Sunday at the house of Amos Fuller, Jr., 
and the town paid him 3s., 4d. per week. Mr. Fuller's 
house, the Fuller-Ritchie-Newell house, is about half a 
mile east of the old meeting-house site, and was built about 
1754. Others who preached in Needham at this time, ac- 
cording to the town treasurer's book, were: the Rev. Samuel 
Cotton, A.M., Harvard 1759, four Sundays in October, 
1762, the Rev. Edward Brooks, A.M., Harvard 1757, seven 
Sundays in November and December, two in May, 1763, 
and two in June, the Rev. Edward Russell, A.M., Harvard 
1759, four Sundays in January and February, 1763. Mr. 
Gay, previously mentioned, had officiated four Sundays in 
December, 1762, and January, 1763, the Rev. Mr. "Door" 
one Sunday in March, and the Rev. Joseph Bowman, A.M., 
Harvard 1761 and at Dartmouth 1802, eight Sundays, dates 
uncertain.^ 

THE REV. SAMUEL WEST'S MINISTRY 

On March 12, 1764, the town voted to ordain Mr. West 
on April 25, and chose Ensign Eliakim Cook, Lieut. Amos 

' From the Account Books of William Mills, born 1718, we learn that the Rev. 
Mr. Childs preached May 29, 1763, and again on August 21. This was presumably 
Stephen Childs, A.M., Harvard 1738, as his first name under the second date is 
not entirely illegible. The Rev. Mr. Haven preached June 10, 1763, and the Rev. 
Samuel West took his first text in Needham, June 19, 1763, from John III, 3d 
verse. 

"Mr. hollihock " officiated June 12, and the Rev. Mr. Bowman preached 
September 14. The Rev. Jason Haven, A.M., is probably the minister referred 
to. On the i6th of some month in 1764, date illegible, "A mr Word preacht at 
Capt Canrackf"; this doubtless refers to the house of Captain Kenrick. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 235 

Fuller, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery (who declined), Nathaniel 
Fisher, and Capt. Ephraim Jackson a committee "to Pro- 
vide for the Council the Church Shall Send for to Ordain 
ml Samuel Weft:" On the i6th Capt. Caleb KIngsbery took 
the place of Capt. Eleazer. Captain Jackson was granted 
£5, IS., lod. "for providing for the Council". Mr. West's 
letter of acceptance, dated February 4, 1764, was addressed 
"To the Church and Congregation In Needham". At the 
ordination there were present the Rev. Thomas West of 
Rochester, father of the Rev. Samuel, the Rev. Thomas Balch 
of Dedham, the Rev. Andrew Tyler of Dedham, the Rev. 
Samuel Woodward of Weston, the Rev. Amos Adams of 
Roxbury, the Rev. Jason Haven of Dedham, First Church, 
and the Rev. Samuel West of Dartmouth. Mr. Tyler began 
with prayer, Mr. West of Dartmouth preached, Mr. Thomas 
West gave the charge, Mr. Woodward prayed, and Mr. Balch 
gave the right hand of fellowship. 

Owing to the large attendance the ordination took place 
In the open air. Mr. West had been graduated from Har- 
vard College In 1761, and was twenty-six years old when he 
came to Needham, and unmarried. From June 19, 1763, 
he had frequently preached In the town, and had boarded 
with Lieut. Aaron Smith on the South Road.^ On February 
23, 1769, Mr. West was married to Priscllla Plimpton of 
Medfield, and April 28 he purchased for £200 the house 
and lands of his predecessor, Mr. Townsend, with the ex- 
ception of about seven acres of outlands. Mr. West later 
increased his outlands from thirteen acres to thirty-five, 
and he also had the use of the Ministerial land. On Thurs- 
day, April 17, 1769, he brought his young wife to the old 
parsonage; the day was cold and gloomy, and he had to leave 
her and go half a mile to procure fire from the nearest 
neighbor, probably either Amos Fuller or Oliver Mills. Mr. 

^ In his autobiography, which was formerly in the possession of Mr. John J. 
May of Boston, Mr. West describes the Lieutenant's wife, Martha (Ware), as one 
"who possessed all the virtues which piety without refined education could furnish 
to a mind or person to whom nature had been peculiarly indulgent." 



236 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

West employed from four to six carpenters for two months, 
at a cost of £100, to repair the house, as it was then In a 
poor condition. This house continued the home of Mr. 
West as long as he remained In Needham, and here his four 
children were born. 

He was a scholarly and faithful minister, very courteous 
and discreet. While In Needham It was his custom to have 
meetings in private houses for people unable to attend the 
regular services, and by his good judgment and tact these 
meetings were successful. For particulars of his patriotic 
efforts at the time of the Revolution, and of his acceptance 
in 1788 of the call to the Hollls Street Church, Boston, 
when he had previously declined other calls, see Mr. West's 
autobiography. The excellent memoir of him by the Rev. 
Thomas Thacher, and Felt's Annals of the American Pulpit, 
In which latter work Mr. West Is classed with the pioneer 
Unitarians, may also be referred to. The writer has seen 
only a copy of the autobiography, but the sketch by Mr. 
Thacher Is not a rare publication. Eight pamphlets. In- 
cluding nine sermons, and some articles In the Columbian 
Centinel are all of the printed contributions made to litera- 
ture by Mr. West.^ 

While at Needham so much of Mr. West's time was con- 
sumed In preparing boys for college, in carrying on his farm 
and in pastoral duties, that he got into the habit of preaching 
without notes, and his people grew to prefer to have him do 
so. For many years pupils boarded and studied with Mr. 
West, and the large west chamber is still called "the school 
room", and on its walls, beneath the modern paper, are 
ample evidences of Its ancient use. The Rev. Stephen 
Palmer, Mr. West's successor, had students at his house, and 
it Is said that the Rev. Mr. Townsend, 1720-62, increased 
his slender income in the same way. 

Mrs. West was blamed by the people of Needham for her 
husband's leaving town. The change greatly Improved their 

^ See the American Quarterly Register, Vol. VIII, p. 53, 1836. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 237 

circumstances. Although Mr. West's salary was raised to 
£80 in 1786, he "forgave" his people at different times 
nearly £250, and in 1774 he had no salary at all. On 
November 4, 1773, the town voted "that mi Weft Should 
Preach Near where the Meeting Houfe Stood: Provided it 
be no Coft to the Town for a place to Preach in". Dart- 
mouth College conferred the degree of S.T.D. (D.D.) on 
Mr. West in 1798. He lived to 1808. 

By the census of 1765 Needham contained 129 houses, 
168 families, and 945 inhabitants, of whom 14 were negroes. 

THE REV. STEPHEN PALMER'S MINISTRY 

After Mr. West left, the pulpit in the First Church was 
supplied by Messrs. Oliver Dodge, Jacob Coggin, Hezekiah 
Packard, Hendricus Dow, Emerson Foster, Nathan Under- 
wood, Thomas Adams, Thaddeus Mason Harris, Solomon 
Spalding, Smith, Alden Bradford, Joshua Chamber- 

lain, and perhaps others. Most of these preachers were 
recent graduates of Harvard, and while in Needham boarded 
with Thomas Hubbard Townsend, who had purchased Mr. 
West's home. Mr. Dow received a call to Needham, August 
2, 1790, which he declined. 

On October 30, 1791, the Rev. Stephen Palmer, A.M., 
Harvard 1789, first preached in Needham, and on June 11, 
1792, he received a call here, which he accepted August 5, 
and was ordained on November 7, an ideal day. The Rev. 
Mr. Newell of Stow, a native of Needham, began the ordi- 
nation with prayer, the Rev. Jason Haven of Dedham 
preached from 2 Timothy H, 2, the Rev. Joseph Jackson of 
Brookline made the ordaining prayer, the Rev. John Ellis 
of Rehoboth gave the charge, the Rev. Roland Green of 
Mansfield prayed, and the Rev. George Morey of Walpole 
gave the right hand of fellowship. Thus began the ministry 
of one of the best men and most influential ministers that 
our town has known. Some of the older people say that he 
was the ablest that the Church has had. The friendship 



238 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

between the young minister and the aged Colonel M'^Intosh 
began when Mr. Palmer boarded at the Mcintosh home- 
stead, on what Is now Great Plain Avenue. It perhaps led 
to the call, and lasted through life. Mr. Palmer bought the 
place where his predecessors had lived, and on May 28, 
1794, when he took possession, he found his parishioners 
gathered there, and preparations for his comfort made. 
His home coming appears to have been much more satisfac- 
tory than that of Mr. West. Mr. Palmer's salary had been 
fixed at £80, settlement £130, and he was to have his fire- 
wood, and the use of the "Ministerial Land". From 1797 
his salary varied from $300 to $333.33. Although an Ortho- 
dox minister In good standing, he was so liberal that when a 
Unitarian succeeded him. It seemed no radical departure. 

Mr. Palmer was a large, stout man, and when In the pulpit 
he wore a great deal of lace at his throat. He never entered 
the meeting-house for a regular service until the people were 
seated, when he bowed to right and left as he passed up the 
aisle. He prayed with his eyes wide open, and fixed on the 
top of a certain window. 

The christening basin, still In use, was his gift, and was 
first used May 5, 18 16. That year the Parish bought, from 
the proceeds of wood sold on the Ministerial land, four 
silver plates and eight cups, which were first used July 21, 
1816. The earlier communion vessels, with the exception 
of a silver tankard given by the will of Thomas Hubbard 
Townsend in 18 10, were of pewter.^ In 1803 Mrs. Catharine 
Palmer presented the folio Bible, now in the Sunday School 
library. Thirteen years earlier the Church had received a 
now forgotten legacy under the will of Mrs. Elizabeth.'' Cook, 
wife of Ensign Eliaklm Cook.^ Mrs. Catharine Elizabeth 
(Smith) Fuller, born September 30, 1820, was the last child 
baptized by Mr. Palmer, and the last survivor of the large 

^ For a full account of the silver of the First Church and Parish see the book 
known as Clarke's Wellesley Epitaphs. 

2 The Probate records of the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk fail to supply any 
trace of Mrs. Cook's estate. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 239 

number baptized by him. She died March 20, 1907, the 
day the 187th anniversary of the Church was observed. 

Mr. Palmer was a member of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, and contributed to its publications. His printed 
sermons number fifteen, and include two "Charges" and 
two offerings of the "Right Hand of Fellowship". His 
revision of "Watts Psalms and Hymns, with occasional 
Hymns", i8ii,was published, and used in many churches. 
His "Century Sermon" is referred to elsewhere in this 
volume. The few of his funeral discourses which have come 
down to us are admirable, particularly that on the death of 
Colonel Mcintosh, who died January 3, 1813. For a more 
complete list of his writings, see the American Quarterly 
Register, Vol. VHI, p. 53, 1836. Mr. Palmer wrote an 
autobiography, a copy of which, or of a portion of it, is in 
the possession of the Dedham Historical Society. 

His son. Dr. Joseph Palmer, was also a member of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society, and presented the Church 
in 1837 with the mahogany Communion table, which is still 
in use. 

Mr. Palmer died of paralysis, and breathed his last in 
the lower north room of his house, on October 31, 1821, 
aged fifty-five years, and was buried in the Palmer-M^Intosh 
tomb, but his remains were later removed to a lot. The 
people of his charge bore the expense of his funeral. During 
his Illness, which lasted two years, the pulpit was supplied 
by Messrs. Read, Lemuel Capen, A.M., Everett, and 
Thomas Rich, who were paid from seven to ten dollars 
per Sunday. 

LATER MINISTERS 

The Rev. William Ritchie, Dartmouth 1804, was installed 
as Mr. Palmer's successor December 12, 1821, and died 
February 22, 1842, aged sixty-one years, and was burled In 
Needham, his flock bearing the expense. Mr. Ritchie's 
salary was to be $474, and, according to ancient custom, he 



240 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

was to have ten cords of oak wood and ten of pine "brought 
to his door yearly", but by agreement made in 1824 sixty- 
five dollars was to be given him annually in lieu of the wood. 
As a matter of fact his parishioners continued to bring him 
six cords of oak wood and six of pine, the latter split; he 
also had the use of the Ministerial land north of the meeting- 
house. In 1829 he gave up his rights in this land. That 
year no tax for his salary was levied, and subscriptions were 
relied upon. In 1832 "the subscription [was] offered to 
ladies". In 1834 the law authorizing taxation of all prop- 
erty in a parish for the support of the minister was finally 
repealed, having been much weakened by amendments 
subsequent to 1800. Mr. Ritchie's salary in 1840 was but 
$400. The cost of entertaining the Council at Mr. Ritchie's 
installation was $69. At first he boarded with the widow 
of his predecessor, but as he had a family, which included 
some noisy boys who disturbed Mrs. Palmer, he began soon 
to consider a home of his own. He purchased the Amos 
Fuller house, on Nehoiden Street, later the home of Artemas 
Newell, Esq., and lived there the remainder of his life. The 
house was struck by lightning on March 22, 1835. On 
April 24, 1836, he preached twice at the last services held 
in the Second Meeting-house. 

The Rev. Lyman Maynard was Installed September 7, 
1842, and was the minister for four years. His pastorate 
was uneventful, but by vote of August 26, 1844, unfermented 
wine was to be used at the communion. In 1859 "the fruit 
of the vine" In an even milder form was substituted, and 
later sweetened water was used. Mr. Maynard bought of 
Galen Orr in 1844 two acres of land with buildings on Central 
Avenue, and made his home there. Mr. Orr had built the 
house on the premises in 1843, and had removed there a 
portion of the old Fairbanks barn, from what is now Great 
Plain Avenue, near Greendale Avenue, and made the exist- 
ing barn from it. Mr. Maynard sold this property in 1847 
to George Revere, who also owned the Townsend estate and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 241 

the Nehoiden Block. Mr. Revere sold the Maynard place 
In 1859, and the Nehoiden Block property ten years later, 
and in 1905 and 1906 both these properties were again ac- 
quired by the owner of the Townsend estate. Mr. Maynard 
weighed two hundred pounds, and appeared like a farmer. 
Mr. Tucker relates that one hot summer day Luther Morse, 
the blacksmith, who lived on Nehoiden Street, loaned the 
minister a small horse for harrowing, and was indignant when 
he learned that the parson was riding horse-back. Mr. 
Maynard died October 7, 1862, aged sixty-one years and 
eight months. 

The Rev. Charles Henry Appleton Dall, A.M., Harvard 
1837, Divinity School 1840, commenced preaching in Need- 
ham October i, 1846, and was installed February 7, 1847. 
In 1847 the parsonage west of the graveyard was built for 
his use at a cost of $2500, but he occupied it only from March 
I, 1848 to the end of 1849, when he closed his ministry. He 
was for many years a noted missionary in India, the first that 
the Unitarians had there. His wife, Caroline Wells Healey 
Dall, who Is living in 191 1 at an advanced age, is widely 
known as an authoress, and is a remarkably strong char- 
acter. Mr. Dall died in India July 18, 1886, aged seventy- 
one years, after a service there of more than forty years. 

The Rev. Nathaniel Gage supplied the pulpit for 1850, 
the Rev. James Francis Hicks, Meadville, was ordained 
over this Church July 14, 1852, and was the minister to 
January 2, 1853, and the Rev. George GIbbs Channing sup- 
plied the pulpit In the years 1853 and 1854.^ The Rev. 
Andrew Napoleon Adams, Harvard Divinity School 1855, 
began to preach in Needham in June, 1855, was ordained 
November 21, 1855, and concluded his ministry in 1857, 
engaging soon afterward in a business career. He died in 
Fair Haven, Vermont, his birthplace, March 13, 1905, in his 
seventy-sixth year. Prior to going to the Harvard Divinity 

1 Mr. Channing boarded with the widow of Dea. Jonathan Newell, on Central 
Avenue; the house is now owned by Mr. Johnson. 



242 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

School he had studied at Meadville Theological School. 
The Rev. John Stetson Barry, A.M., Tufts 1861, honorary, 
was installed October 13, 1858, and resigned March 12, i860. 
He died in St. Louis December 11, 1872, in his fifty-fourth 
year. The Rev. George Homer Emerson, D.D., supplied 
the pulpit to December, 1866, and was a Universalist as 
were his immediate predecessors, Adams and Barry. The 
Rev. Dr. Emerson received his D.D. from St. Lawrence 
University, Canton, N. Y., 1871. He died in Salem, Mass., 
March 24, 1898, aged seventy-six years. 

Dr. Noyes wrote in his diary, under date of 1830, "Uni- 
versalist meeting in East Needham — Balch preached — " 

The Rev. Albert Buel Vorse, Meadville Theological School 
1862, was the minister from March 14, 1870 to April 8, 
1871, when he resigned to accept the call of the newly 
organized Unitarian Society in Grantville. The Rev. Solon 
Wanton Bush, Brown 1845, Harvard Divinity School 1848, 
was the minister of the First Church and Parish in Needham 
for nearly eighteen years, and preached his farewell sermon 
February 17, 1889. He was greatly interested in the welfare 
of his people, kind and patient, and much beloved. It is 
reasonably certain that either he or Mrs. Bush was the 
unknown donor of $500 toward paying for the vestry or 
Parish House, which was erected and dedicated near the 
close of his ministry. He died in Boston on March 19, 
1898, in his eightieth year. The Rev. Charles Adams 
Allen, Harvard 1858, Meadville Theological School 1864, 
succeeded Mr. Bush in October, 1889, but was not installed, 
and his last sermon as the minister of this Church was 
preached May 14, 1893. Mr. Allen is a scholarly and able 
man. The Rev. Philip Slaney Thacher, Meadville Theo- 
logical School, became the minister April 26, 1894, when he 
was installed. He preached his last sermon as the pastor 
of this Church April 29, 1901. In the afternoon the seventy- 
fifth anniversary of the Sunday School was observed, and 
fourteen young people united with the Church. The Rev. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 243 

William Willett Peck, Wesleyan 1895, preached his first 
sermon in Needham on December 8, 1901, after he had 
accepted a call, and his farewell discourse on February 9, 
1908. His ministry had been successful, but he received an 
attractive invitation to go to Winchendon, and his people 
in Needham were unable to offer any great advance in his 
salary. Before he went to Wesleyan Mr. Peck had been a 
student in the Flartford Theological Seminary, and subse- 
quent to 1895 he took courses in the Harvard Divinity 
School. The Rev. Joseph Adams Puffer, A.B., Wesleyan, 
S.T.B., Boston University 1900, began to preach regularly 
on June 21, 1908, having accepted a call given him on 
May 19, and was at Needham till the close of 191 1. 

Sunday services have been held from time to time for 
eighty years at Charles River Village, or the South Mills, 
usually on the Dover side in Noanet Hall, often called New- 
ell's Hall. This hall was burned about 1868, and since then 
the religious meetings have been in the school-house. In 
the nineties there was a Sunday School Association, and a 
Sunday School, and in 1893 the Rev. George W. Andrews of 
Wellesley preached there. In earlier times the Unitarians 
and Universalists had services at the South Mills, and the 
ministers of the First Church in Needham frequently spoke 
there. It has not been unusual for the pastor of this Church 
also to have charge of a congregation at the South Mills, 
or at Dover, which latter town has an old and fully organized 
Unitarian Church. Mr. Allen organized a small society 
which worshipped Sunday afternoons in a hall at Newton 
Highlands. His successor, the Rev. Philip S. Thacher, who 
was minister at Needham 1 894-1901, was also for a portion 
of those years minister at Dover, where he held services every 
Sunday afternoon. 

In 1876 there were only thirty members of the First 
Church in Needham, but the First Parish was a larger body, 
and there were many persons connected with the Society 
who were members of neither Church nor Parish. The 



244 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Sunday School then consisted of eight teachers and seventy- 
five scholars, and the well-remembered Dea. Otis Morton 
was the superintendent, and also the Church clerk. 

George Kuhn Clarke was elected president of the Norfolk 
Conference of Unitarian and other Christian Churches in 
October, 1907, and served to October, 1910, being the first 
president that Needham has had of this Conference, although 
it has been in existence since December, 1866. 

"TWO HUNDREDTH" ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 

On March 20, 191 1, the "Two Hundredth" anniversary 
of the First Church was observed by an old-time service, 
such as had not been held there since the century before 
the last. The programme was as follows: Organ voluntary 
Mrs. Edith Lyman, Welcome by the minister, the Rev. J. 
Adams Puffer, then a service participated in by the Rev. 
Mr. Puffer, the Rev. E. Edward Marsh, the Rev. Newton 
Black, the Rev. William R. Lord, the Rev. William W. Peck, 
and the Rev. John de La Montaigne Waldron. The "Long 
Prayer" by Mr. Waldron was impressive and admirable, but 
limited, however, to fifteen minutes. The Rev. Mr. Lord, an 
able and accomplished man, read portions of a sermon 
preached by the Rev. Jonathan Townsend in 1727/8, on the 
occasion of a Fast to avert the wrath of God. The Historical 
Tablet was unveiled by Frederick Stillman Kingsbury, a 
descendant of Josiah Kingsbery, and of other first settlers 
of Needham. Mr. Kingsbury read the historical inscrip- 
tion, and the list of ministers which followed on the tablet. 
He was assisted by his second cousin, Emily Holland Kings- 
bury, and by Alvin Gay Stevens, the latter representing the 
Fullers, the Gays, the Eatons, and other old families of this 
town. George Kuhn Clarke gave an address of about fifteen 
minutes on "The Beginning of our Church", in which he 
pictured the conditions existing when the town was incorpo- 
rated, and the then inseparable union of Church and State. 
Mr. John Fisher Mills read a portion of his paper on "Music 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 245 

of Y^ Olden Tyme". He is a descendant not only of the 
Mills family, which has been prominent in this locality from 
its first settlement by the white men, but of the Fullers, 
the Fishers, the Cheneys, and a number of the other pioneer 
families. It is singularly appropriate that he is chairman 
of the parish committee in the bicentennial year. The 
Rev. Mr. Peck read some extracts from the early Church 
records, with comments. The Rev. Mr. Lord gave the 
Benediction. The music was fine, and consisted of a large 
choir, and a number of instruments. Among the hymns 
sung were — "Before Jehovah's Awful Throne", "Russia", 
"Complaint", "David's Lamentations", "Northfield" and 
"Old Hundred". The evening closed with a social hour, 
with refreshments, and will be long remembered. The 
Church was organized on March 20, 1719/20, which would 
make it one hundred and ninety-one years old on March 
31, 191 1, according to the calendar now in use. The ob- 
servance was suggested by the fact that the town is two 
hundred years old in 191 1. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WEST NEEDHAM 

The Congregational Church in West Needham was or- 
ganized on September 6, 1798, with ten members, seven 
men and three women, of whom six had been members of 
the First Church. Before the end of 1798 eight more persons 
joined with them, and that year the meeting-house, begun 
in 1774, was completed at a cost of about £1345. In 1834 
it was replaced by another, which was dedicated January i, 
1835. The contract price of the new meeting-house was 
$2750 with the old one. A portion of the latter, including a 
porch, is now a part of the house of George H. Rollins of 
Needham. There were other expenses connected with the 
new meeting-house, which in its turn was superseded by the 
Third Meeting-house, which was dedicated July 11, 1872, 
and which cost upward of $28,000. The Second Meeting- 
house was moved, and is now the main building of Dana 



246 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Hall. The original amount of land with the Church was 
only half an acre, bought for £2, but other land was acquired 
later. In 18 16 extensive repairs were made on the meeting- 
house. In 1824 it was heated, in 1857 coal was first used 
there, and in 1869 a furnace was obtained. The Precinct 
bought a hearse in 1805, a bass viol in 1838, and its first 
organ in 1856 for $650. Their first Church Manual was 
printed in 1828 and the second one in 1859. In 1869 a 
parsonage was built. Their earliest communion set was 
bought in 1798 for $18.25. The second one was purchased 
in 185 1, and was the result of a gift of $190,79 in 1833 ^Y 
Mrs. Persis Ware, who was also the benefactress of the 
First Church. It consists of two tankards, two plates and 
six cups. In 18 12 this Church began to use the "fourth 
book of hymns", prepared by the Rev. Stephen Palmer of the 
First Church, and in 1861 voted to hire a "Seraphine" for the 
choir. In 1864 the name of this Church was changed to 
"The Wellesley Congregational Church". Classes for re- 
ligious instruction were formed in 1806, and in 1828 the 
Church took charge of the Sunday School, which had existed 
for some years. The School of the First Church in Needham 
dates from 1826, and it is a question which was the pioneer 
Sunday School in town. 

In 1776 Mr. Brooks and Mr. Adams preached accept- 
ably in the unfinished West Meeting-house, and boarded 
with Jonathan Deming. Later the Rev. Daniel Oliver and 
Jonathan Whitaker, A.M., supplied. 

The Ministers of this Church to 1881 have been: — 

Rev. Thomas Noyes, A.M., 1799-1833, Harvard 1795, 
Brown, honorary, 18 17. 

Rev. Joseph Washburn Sessions, A.M., 1833-42, Bowdoin 

1829, Andover Theological Seminary 1832. 
Rev. Harvey Newcomb, 1842-6. 

Rev. Andrew Bigelow, 1846-53, Amherst 1838. 

Rev. Abijah Richardson Baker, D.D., 1854-61, Amherst 

1830, A.M. 1833, Andover Theological Seminary 1835. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 247 

Rev. George Gardner Phipps, 1868-78, Amherst 1862, 
Andover Theological Seminary 1865. 

Rev. Perez Dickinson Cowan, 1878- , Amherst 1866, 
Union Theological Seminary 1869. 

DEACONS 

Joseph Daniell, 1799-1805. William Bigelow, 1799-1812. 
Asa Kingsbury, 1805-49. Hezekiah Fuller, 1812-49. 

William Flagg, 1849-61. Augustus Fuller, 1849-85. 

Daniel Morse, 1861-70. 
Whitman S. Winsor, 1870-86. 

The valuable history of the Wellesley Congregational 
Church, by Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898, contains 
portraits of its ministers and views of the successive meeting- 
houses, and renders unnecessary further details as to this 
Church, which is no longer within the limits of Needham. 

ANTIPEDOBAPTISTS 

On August 24, 1774, the town clerk recorded a list which 
was certified by certain men "being Chofen a Committee 
by the Society of the people Called Antipedobaptists, who 
meet together for Religious worfhip on the Lords Day in 
Needham" that Isaac Mills, John Edes, John Smith, Amos 
Mills, Nathaniel Tolman and Martha Dewing "Do Fre- 
quently and Ufually when able attend with us in Our 
Meeting for Religeous worfhip on the Lords Day, and we 
Do Verily belive are, with Refpect to the Ordinance of 
Baptifm of the Same Religious Sentiments with us. 

Jonathan Smith 

Samuel Greenwood ■ Committee." 

Oliver Haftlngs 

On March II, 1750/1, the town had chosen Capt. Robert 
Fuller and Dea. Josiah Newell, to go to the General Court 
"to get a Refolve on the Law Respecting Anabaptifts 



248 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Paying Rates to the Minifter where they dwel for their 
Servants or Sons under age". 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEEDHAM 

The Baptists organized a Church in Needham in 1780- 
Ten years later there were fifteen members, and the Rev. 
Noah Baker, an itinerant minister, was the pastor. A 
foot-note in The Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination^ 
published by John Asplund, records under date of January 
9, 1790, "No fellowship hardly with other churches". The 
Universal Register of the Baptist Denomination in North- 
America for 1790-3, and for a part of 1794, omits Needham, 
and in a foot-note says that the Rev. Mr. Baker, then at 
Chelmsford, was "Formerly Paftor of Needham Church 
(now difTolved)". The History of the Baptists^ Vol. II, by 
Backus, states that the Rev. Mr. Baker was the minister 
at Needham in 1784. It is evident that he preached for some 
years in Needham, where there was a Baptist Church. The 
Rev. Caleb Blood, minister of the Baptist Church in Newton 
in 178 1-8, baptized people in Needham, and presumably 
preached here. The last persons baptized by him in this 
town were two girls, or women, and the immersion was in 
Amos Fuller's sawmill pond. That this Church had ceased 
to exist by 1795 is stated by another authority. The Rev. 
Joseph Grafton, whose active life ended about 1830, left a 
list of the towns in Massachusetts where he had preached, 
and in it mentions Needham. He preached on the first Sun- 
day in January, 1830, a sermon in which he gave a history 
of the Baptist Church in Newton Centre, and in which he 
said "in the town of Needham, adjoining Newton, there 
were a number who embraced the Baptist sentiments. Among 
others, the two deacons of the Congregational Church, then 
under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Townsend, viz. 
Timothy and Eleazer Kingsbury. They united with the 
second Baptist church in Boston (now Warren Ave.). Sev- 
eral of their descendants are members with us (i. e. Newton 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 249 

Centre)." The certificates filed from 1805 to 1820 with the 
town clerk, in order to escape taxation for the support of 
the dominant Church, are evidence that there were upward 
of twenty families in Needham who worshipped as Baptists, 
the majority of them in Medfield or Newton. Investiga- 
tions of the Church in Medfield indicate a larger number of 
Baptists resident in Needham than do these certificates. 

From 1835 to 1837 Baptists living in Needham, Dover 
and Natick held meetings in the house of Dea. Calvin 
French, who lived on the Dea. John Fisher place, which is 
near the river on the Needham side. On October 3, 1837, a 
Council was called to consider establishing a Church, and 
decided that the request for one was premature. On June 
20, of the next year, however, a Council gave consent, and 
the Needham and Dover Baptist Church was formed, with 
a small meeting-house erected in Dover, on land given by 
Deacon French. Until i860 this Church stood near the large 
oak, on the east side of the road, a short distance beyond 
Fisher's Bridge. In i860 the Church was moved to the hill 
east of what is now Springvale Park, and is since known as 
the Springvale Baptist Church, although services have 
rarely been held there in recent years. The History of Dover, 
by Frank Smith, contains a picture of this Church. 

In September, 1854, a subscription was circulated in 
Needham to build a Baptist Church on the Great Plain, 
and was signed by thirty-three persons, including two 
brothers who gave jointly. George Rowland headed the 
list with $500, and three women contributed. The signers 
were not all Baptists, as several men interested in the de- 
velopment of the town gave $100 each, with the result that 
on September 17 $900 had been pledged, and was soon 
increased to $2000. Dea. George Rowland engaged at his 
own expense the Rev. Amos Webster to preach in the Great 
Plain school-house, and the first services were held there on 
Sunday, September 24, with an attendance of fifty-six in 



2SO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the morning and seventy-four in the afternoon. The sub- 
scribers to the building fund met on October i6, and voted 
to form the First Baptist Society. The signers of these 
Resolutions were: Messrs. Whitaker, Rowland, Burnham, 
Avery, Morton, Charles Fuller, George W. Palmer, William 
O. Swan and James D. Robinson. A building committee 
was appointed, consisting of George Rowland, Jonathan 
Avery, Edgar K. Whitaker, John Burnham and Stephen F. 
Harvey. Mr. Rarvey declined to serve, and Charles B. 
Morton was chosen in his place. On November 6 the build- 
ing plans were adopted, and on the 15th an informal ad- 
visory council gave encouragement by a favorable report. 
On April 27, 1856, twenty-seven persons voted in favor of a 
Church organization, which was formed on May 26. The 
Rev. Allen Eleazer Battell ^ was chosen moderator, and 
Charles M. Dinsmoor clerk. Letters were read dismissing 
twenty persons from other Churches to form the new one, 
eight, including Dea. John Rowland and family, were from 
Newton Upper Falls, of the two from Newton Centre, one 
was Miss Jane G. Avery, now Mrs. William Carter, the only 
constituent member of the Church who is still a member in 
191 1, five came from the First Baptist Church in Cambridge, 
two, Deacon Burnham and his wife, from the Baptist Bethel 
in Boston, one was from the Union Baptist Church in Boston, 
and two, Charles Fuller and his wife, from the Needham 
and Dover Baptist Church. The Articles of Faith and the 
Covenant of the First Baptist Church in Charlestown were 
adopted. The Church was named the Needham Plain 
Baptist Church, and Charles M. Dinsmoor was chosen church 
clerk. 

On June i, 1856, five persons were received as members, 
and they are counted as constituent members, as the Recog- 
nition Council was not held till June 11, on which day there 
were appropriate services in which the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. 

1 The Rev. Mr. Battell was a native of Dover. A sketch of his life in the Mas- 
sachusetts Baptist Anniversaries, 1896, gives his middle name as Elihu. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 251 

Smith and others took part. On June 22 four members of 
the Sunday School were baptized by the Rev. Allen E. 
Battell in the pond near Isaac H. Greenwood's blacksmith's 
shop. Mr. Battell had preached an impressive discourse in 
the morning, and the Rev. Joseph W. Parker, D.D., made 
an address at the pond. This was the first baptism in a 
pond since the Rev. Mr. Blood had officiated. 

The Sunday School was formed in May, 1855, and began 
with four teachers and twelve scholars, but within a few 
months had eight classes with an average attendance of 
forty, or more. The fiftieth anniversary of the Sunday 
School was observed in June, 1905. The first letter from the 
Church in Needham to the Boston South Baptist Association 
was written in 1856, and stated that the Sunday School 
numbered ten teachers and sixty-six pupils, and that Charles 
M. Dinsmoor was the superintendent. 

The first services in the new Church were held in June, 
1855, in the vestry, for the upper audience room was not 
finished till 1872, although in 1856 $4200 had already been 
expended on the building. In 1871 the debt was reduced 
$700, and by a great eff"ort $4154 were soon obtained, the 
debt was extinguished, and the Church building completed 
and furnished. The Rev. Dr. Smith had raised $1000 outside 
of the town for this Society. The Church was dedicated on 
June 5, 1872, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. 
William Lamson of Dedham, and an original hymn was 
sung, which the Rev. Dr. Smith had written for this occasion. 
In June, 1884, it was voted to have a baptistery in the Church, 
and the first baptism in it was on March 29, 1885. In 1889 
a parsonage was finished, and in 1896 the Church was raised, 
and a cellar made under it. In 1901 an addition was built 
on the rear to give room for a new organ. 

The land on which the Church stands formerly belonged 
to the Edgar K. Whitaker estate, a portion of which is now 
owned by John J. Morgan, and earlier was a part of the 
Dea. Timothy Kingsbery farm, which in old times extended 



252 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

for more than a mile. The land was sold for $350 by two 
trustees to George Rowland on February 18, 1853. By a 
deed dated December i, 1854, George H. Howland conveyed 
this land to his father, Dea. George Howland, and others 
as trustees for the Society. Several more deeds were neces- 
sary to perfect the title, including releases from Mr. Whit- 
aker and Henry Safford, which were obtained in 1870. The 
Church lot contains 40,600 square feet. The building com- 
mittee consisted of the five men chosen on October 16, 1854, 
and the contract was made on December 8, 1854, and is 
recorded at Dedham in the Registry of Deeds (Lib. 237, 
fol. 24). 

The bell was bought by subscription In August, 1876, and 
cost upward of $100. "The Bell we will have and the Clock 
we hope to have" was a watchword for a year or two, but 
the latter, which cost $785, Including some alterations In the 
Church which it Involved, was not obtained until the new 
century. At one of the festivals to raise money for the bell 
and clock an appropriate poem by George Avery was dis- 
tributed. The seats In the Church were made free In 1880. 
For the year ending November i, 1861, the Rev. Frederick 
Augustus Willard received as pastor only his house rent 
and $216.49, Including $65 from the Baptist State Conven- 
tion. From 1862 to the present time this Church has been 
designated officially as "The First Baptist Church In Need- 
ham", Ignoring the name adopted In 1856. To the year 
1872 the Society had nominally existed In addition to the 
Church, but at the dedication Deacon Howland in behalf of 
the trustees of the Society transferred to Dea. William 
Moseley, representing the Church, the land on which the 
edifice stands. This land, according to the deed of the gift, 
was to become the property of the Church if a house of 
worship was finished and Its congregation maintained Bap- 
tist principles. A constitution and by-laws were adopted 
by this Church on January 20, 1875, and these have been 
but little changed. On November 30, 1888, It was voted 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 253 

that the Church should be organized as a legal corporation, 
and that the deacons should convey to it the property of the 
Church. 

This Church has steadfastly maintained the doctrines of 
the Baptist faith as understood by its founders. Covenant 
meetings were formerly held in the daytime on week days, 
and were largely attended. In the spring of 1857 in addi- 
tion to the weekly prayer meetings there were gatherings 
of the young people at dwelling houses for religious study, 
and these were rarely omitted on the designated dates, the 
attendance being from twenty to forty. The annual re- 
unions of the Church date from 1887. The interest in mis- 
sionary work dates as far back as 1856, and was stimulated 
by the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith's visit In 1880 to the mission 
fields In Europe and Asia. On August 29, 1880, a farewell 
service was held in the Church, which testified to the esteem 
in which Dr. Smith was held by the Baptists of Needham, 
and on his return two years later he spoke one Sunday even- 
ing in this Church. Home and Foreign missions have been 
liberally sustained, and no less than twenty-four good 
causes have engaged the attention of the people of this 
First Baptist Church, the contributions averaging $150 per 
year for fifty years, which is most creditable in view of the 
slender resources for many years. The Ladies' Circle and 
the Further Lights Society have done much for the missions. 
The former organization was formed on March 15, 1855, 
and the latter on December 29, 1897. The Senior Young 
People's Society of Christian Endeavor dates from July 27, 
1887, and the Junior Young People's Society of Christian 
Endeavor from February 3, 1900, the former having forty 
members in 1906, and the latter forty-seven. The Men's 
League was organized under the auspices of this Society on 
March 16, 1898, and numbers about eighty. It meets in the 
vestry on a Monday evening once a month, during eight 
months of the year, when, after brief religious services, 
some practical subject is presented by a speaker, often a 



254 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

man of note from out of town. The meeting is followed hy 
a social gathering and simple refreshments. The League 
is entirely nonsectarian, and has Catholic members, as well 
as Protestants of different denominations. The Boys' 
League dates from December 17, 1899, and for two years 
used the vestry, but a gymnasium was provided for them 
in the rear of the cellar, and they met there for the first 
time on December 5, 1901. 

On Sunday, June 10, 1906, "The Jubilee Anniversary" 
of The First Baptist Church in Needham, was commemo- 
rated by appropriate services. Monday evening was "De- 
nominational Night", when there were distinguished speak- 
ers from out of town, all of them ministers. Tuesday after- 
noon was "Woman's Session", and there were addresses by 
women noted in missionary fields. Tuesday evening was de- 
voted to a reunion, at which letters were read from former 
pastors and members, and of the ministers the Rev. Messrs. 
Read, Clark and Webb were present and gave addresses. 
The observances of the anniversary concluded Wednesday 
evening, which was designated "Fellowship". Dea. Thomas 
Sutton presided, the Unitarian, Orthodox and Episcopal 
ministers spoke briefliy, and George Kuhn Clarke gave an 
historical address, which presented phases of the early 
religious history of Needham. On all of these occasions 
there was excellent music. 

At the completion of fifty years there were two hundred 
and forty-two members of this Church, of which forty-six 
had been received within one year, and the total number of 
members during the half century was five hundred and five, 
of whom two hundred and fifty-two had been received by 
baptism, two hundred and twenty-five by letter and twenty- 
eight by experience. 

Mrs. Jane G. A. Carter wrote a poem for the anniversary, 
which referred to the successive pastorates. Mrs. Carter's 
father, Jonathan Avery, had been an original contributor 
for the building of the Church, and subscribed $100. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 255 

In 1876 there were seventy-seven members of this Church, 
and the Sunday School had ten teachers and eighty-five 
pupils, John Moseley, superintendent. He was also the 
treasurer of the Church, and Thomas Sutton was the clerk. 

The Pastors of the First Baptist Church in Needham 
have been as follows: — 

Rev. Amos Webster, D.D., from 1854 to October, 1855; 
graduated at New Hampton Literary and Theological In- 
stitution in 1848, received the degree of A.M. from Colby 
University in 1867, and the same year that of D.D. from 
Columbian College. He edited the Christian Era from 1855 
to 1875. Needham was his only pastorate, although he was 
a well-known preacher for more than thirty years. Died in 
Hyde Park February 14, 1894, aged nearly seventy-seven 
years. 

Rev. Frederick Augustus Willard, A.M., accepted a call 
to Needham. on December 7, 1856, and preached his farewell 
sermon there on November 12, 1865. He graduated at 
Amherst in 1826, and at the Newton Theological Institu- 
tion in 1830, where he had studied for three years. Died 
in Philadelphia March 17, 1866, aged fifty-nine years. 

Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, D.D., the noted divine, and 
author of "America," preached at Needham from 1866 to 
1873, and from 1877 to 1880. He graduated at Harvard 
in 1829, at Andover Theological Seminary in 1832, A.M. 
Harvard, D.D. (S.T.D.) Colby University 1853. Died 
November 16, 1895, aged eighty-seven years. 

Rev. Stephen Gano Abbott, A.M., accepted the call to 
Needham on December 21, 1873, and resigned on June 4, 
1876. He studied at the Hancock (N. H.) Literary and 
Scientific Institution, graduated at New Hampton (N. H.) 
Literary and Theological Institution in 1848, honorary 
A.M. from Bates College 1867. Mr. Abbott was chaplain 
of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the Civil War, 
was at one time a member of the Vermont Legislature, and 
later chaplain of the New Hampshire House of Representa- 



256 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

tlves; also a trustee of New London Seminary, and moder- 
ator of the Dublin, N. H., Association 1888-91. Died Feb- 
ruary 9, 1901, aged eighty-two years. 

Rev. Edward Andrew Read, A.M., elected pastor on Jan- 
uary 6, 1881, accepted on the 12th, began his services at 
Needham on the 19th, and his resignation was accepted on 
March 23, 1883. He graduated at Colby in 1875, and at 
the Newton Theological Institution in 1878. 

Rev. William Herman Clark, A.M., elected on December 
19, 1883, resigned on January 9, 1887, and his resignation 
was accepted on the 17th, as he was in ill health. He was 
of the class of 1864 at Hebron Academy, Me., graduated at 
Colby in 1867, and was made A.M. in 1871. 

Rev. Nathan Smith Burton, D.D., elected on June 13, 
1887, commenced his pastorate on September i, and resigned 
on September i, 1893. He graduated at Western Reserve 
College in 1846, then studied theology there for one year, 
thence to Newton Theological Institution for his second 
year, returned to Western Reserve College and graduated 
there in Theology in 1850. He was made a Doctor of 
Divinity by Denison University in 1863. 

Rev. Robert Lee Webb, Ph.D., called on October 31, 1893, 
accepted on November 8, ordained on the 27th, resigned on 
July 24, 1904, Ph.D. Columbian, now George Washington 
University, D. C, Newton Theological Institution in 1893. 
He also studied elsewhere for the degree of Ph.D. 

Rev. Charles Edward Sawtelle, called on October 3, 1904, 
accepted on the i6th, commenced his pastorate on the 23d, 
ordained on November 30th. He graduated at Colby in 
1896, and at the Newton Theological Institution in 1904. 

The Deacons of this Church have been as follows: — 
George Howland May 26, 1856, resigned on Octo- 

ber 24, 1863, and removed from 
town. 
John Burnham May 26, 1856, died September 4, 

1869. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Charles Fuller 



257 



William Moseley 

Levi E. Day 

Edward J. Chadbourne 

Robert W. Ames 

Thomas Sutton 
John Moseley 



October 24, 1863, removed from 

town in 1867, or 1868. 
December 5, 1869, elected for life 
on December 4, 1901, died Sep- 
tember 13, 1909. 
December 5, 1869, resigned April 

23, 1871. 
January i, 1875, removed from 

town prior to May i, 1878. 
December 18, 1878, died Septem- 
ber 18, 1888. 
December 15, 1886- . 
December 15, 1886- , elected 
for life on December 4, 1901. 
He has been treasurer of the 
Church since December 15, 
1875. 
December 4, 1901, for life, died 

July 24, 1902. 
December 4, 1901- . 
December 4, 1901- . 
Thomas James Crossman December 7, 1904- . 
Albert Edward Brownville December i, 1909- . 

The First Baptist Church in Needham has never lacked 
unselfish workers, and the spirit of helpfulness has led them 
to strive with courage, and self-sacrifice, to bring people 
without a Church home under the influences of their Church, 
to instruct neglected children, and to do their best to uplift 
the community. In the early days their numbers were 
small, but a group of earnest people by constant faithful 
service kept this Church from closing its doors and gave a 
considerable portion of their resources to its work. This 
was true as late as 1869, when a loyal few faced a difficult 
financial situation. 

Of the ministers of this Baptist Church it may justly be 
said that they have not only possessed ability and high 



George V. Richardson 

Richard Henry Bond 
Robert Burns Walker 



2S8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

character, but that in their deportment and their dress they 
have ever been consistent with their calling. The list of 
deacons is a roll of good men, and zealous Christians, recog- 
nized as including in their number some of the most influ- 
ential men of this town. No Church ever had more loyal 
sons than Deacons William Moseley and John Moseley, and 
the former in the early seventies, when some people thought 
that the Church must be given up, served at one time as 
deacon, church clerk, treasurer, Sunday School superintend- 
ent and janitor. Of those worthy of mention in connection 
with the first years of this Church is Gustavus Fellowes de 
Lesdernier, who was the clerk, and who died October 15, 
1869. His son of the same name is identified with this 
Church, and a regular attendant at its services In 191 1. 

There are five memorial windows in this Church. The 
three on the west side are in memory of Annie Moseley, of 
Ann Hills Sutton, and of the Rev. Amos F. Spalding, the 
first on the east side is in memory of Alonzo M. Mace, and 
the second of Dea. John Burnham, and of his wife, Martha 
M. Burnham. 

METHODISTS 

In 1792 the noted Jesse Lee preached in the West Church, 
and many who were weary of the old theology heard him 
gladly, including a number who had become Antlpedobap- 
tists, and for many years the Methodists of the Needham 
Circuit were much in earnest. In 1796 the Rev. George Pick- 
ering, an able man, had charge of this circuit, and a few 
years later the first Methodist Meeting-house in Needham 
was built on land granted to Edward Hawes in 1661.^ The 

1 From "Memorials of the Introduction of Methodism into the Eastern States: 
By Rev. A. Stevens, A.M.", Boston, 1848, and from "Memorials of the Early- 
Progress of Methodism in the Eastern States: (Second Series.)", by the same 
author, Boston, 1852, the following facts have been obtained as to the Needham 
Circuit, which in 1809 included twenty towns. It derived its name in consequence 
of the early establishment of the Methodist Society in Needham. In the first of 
these volumes is the statement that Joseph Snelling dedicated the "old Methodist 
Chapel of Needham" in 1798, and, as he went to Martha's Vineyard that year as 
minister, the dedication in Needham probably took place early in the spring. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 259 

location was on Blossom Street on a knoll close to the 
Weston line, and the builders were Lot Jennison and Lieut. 
Winsor Moulton. The late John Mansfield said that he saw 
this meeting-house raised, and that a black bottle was handed 
to the man who first walked the "ridge". Many years later 
the meeting-house was moved eastward, and has long been 
on the Parker place. In recent years the early characteris- 
tics of the building have disappeared, but there are photo- 
graphs of it taken prior to the more radical changes. Father 
Isaac Jennison, Joel Pierce and Tyler Harrington were 
leaders among the Methodists, and were known as "The 
Three Apostles". Mr. Harrington lived in the ancient house, 
still standing, on the west side of the road leading to Weston 
from Blossom Street. The Harrington homestead, which is 
in Weston, is typical of many that existed in Provincial 
times. It stands on a hill with great trees around it, and 
numerous old outbuildings. On the other side of the road 
from where the Methodist Meeting-house stood, but in 
Weston, in one of the oldest houses in this region, there 
dwelt the childless "Deacon" William Bogle and his wife 
Mary, most devoted Methodists. Each Sunday they not 
only entertained the minister, who was perhaps one of the 
founders of the faith in America, but brewed beer and pre- 
pared food each Saturday to refresh the brothers and sisters, 
some of whom came long distances to the services on the 
Sabbath.i 

In this book it is not clear whether Jesse Lee preached in Needham in 1 791 or 
1792, but it distinctly says that his was the first Methodist sermon in Needham, 
and that it was preached on October 6, and that Mr. Lee left town the next day, 
although there were many hearers, and some besought him to tarry longer. He 
was in Needham later, but George Pickering was for several years the Presiding 
Elder of the Conference, and to him the people in the Needham Circuit looked for 
leadership more than to any of the other able and zealous founders of the Metho- 
dist faith in New England. The Rev. Jesse Lee in "A Short History of the Metho- 
dists in the United States of America", which was published in Baltimore in 18 10, 
under date of September, 1791, informs us that "The Methodists preached" "in 
Natick on the loth, and in Needham on the 13th of the same month. Before that 
time they had never had a Methodist preacher among them". The Rev. Mr. Lee 
does not tell us who preached. 

1 This house is said to have been built by the Collers, and was their homestead 
until about 1721, when it passed into the possession of Nathaniel Dewing, and for 



26o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Mrs. Bogle's epitaph, in the South graveyard of Weston, 
is most appropriate: 

" A heart, the sufferer to relieve, 
A home for Pilgrims of the Lord; 
A long and pious life were hers, 
She rests, according to His word." 

Epes Mansfield was another leader in the Needham Cir- 
cuit. As late as 1843 camp meetings were held near the 
Bogle house, and some now living have attended them, 
and have worshipped in the old Methodist Meeting-house. 
The original communion service of this Church was pre- 
sented in 1901 to the New England Methodist Historical 
Society. 

The ministers assigned to the Needham Circuit by the 
annual Conferences, which were held in May, June or July, 
Included men noted for ability, and almost without exception 
devoted and self-sacrificing servants of God, who were wor- 
thy of the esteem In which they were held by thousands of 
Christians. The famous Francis Asbury visited the Need- 
ham Circuit late in July, 1800, and doubtless at other times. 
The list of the early appointments to this Circuit, which It 
should be remembered was a large territory. Is as follows : 

1792 John Allen, 1793 John Hill, 1794 Amos G. Thomp- 
son (to change In three months), 

1795 John Vanneman.?, 1796 George Pickering and Joshua 
Hall, 1797 Daniel Ostrander and Ellas Hill, 

1798 Joseph Snelling,EpaphrasKIbby and Daniel Brumley, 

1799 Stephen Hull and Elijah R. Sabin, 1800 John Finne- 
gan and Nathan Emery, 1801 Joseph Snelling, 

sixty years, or more, was his residence and that of his son, Nathaniel. When the 
town lines were perambulated in the eighteenth century by the selectmen of the 
towns concerned, this house was their rendezvous and headquarters. In early 
times this farm was known as "The Westown Farm," and was within "The Land 
of Contention". Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a drawing of the Bogle house, 
showing the gambrel roof and the huge chimney. When the latter was taken out 
in 1898 the bricks filled the yard. Within the memory of the writer a number of 
the oldest houses in this section have been spoiled as specimens of the early homes 
by pulling out the fine old chimneys. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 261 

1802 Joshua Soule and Daniel Perry, 1803 Reuben Hub- 
bard and Thomas Ravlin, 1804 Nehemlah Coye and Joel 
Ricker, 

1805 Clement Parker and Erastus Otis, 1806 John Gove 
and Thomas Asbury, 

1807 Benjamin Hill and Isaac Scarrett, 1808 John Tlnk- 
ham and Isaac Locke, 

1809 Benjamin R. Hoyt, Nathan Hill and Elijah WlUard, 
the latter a local preacher, 

i8ioIsaacBonney and Robert Arnold, 181 1 Isaac Bonney 
and Ellas Marble, 

1812 Ellsha Streeter and John Blvory, 1813 Orlando 
Hinds and V. R. Osborn, 

1814 Orlando Hinds and Zenas Adams, 1815 V. R. 
Osborn and B. Otheman, 

1816 Orlando Hinds, 1817 V. R. Osborn and B. Otheman, 

18 1 8 Isaac Bonney and John Lindsay (perhaps Mr. 
Lindsay had also served this Circuit a portion of 1814), 

1819 David KUburn and Isaac Stoddard, 

1820 V. R. Osborn and Joel M'Kee, 1821 Benjamin 
Hazelton, 

1822, '23 Erastus Otis and George Falrbank, 

1824 Benjamin Hazelton, J. E. RIsley and I. M. BIdwell, 

1825 John Lindsay, Jared Perkins and H. S. Ramsdell, 
1834 Charles Virgin. 

From the record book, hereinafter referred to, It appears 
that from 1844 to 1848 Messrs. Tyler Harrington, Nathan 
Rice, Joseph E. Pond, James Porter and Calvin B. Blanchard 
preached to the Methodists in Needham, the Rev. Mr. Har- 
rington from time to time for many years, and apparently 
for more than one period of two years. A number of hours 
were expended In attempting to identify these early minis- 
ters, and to verify their names, but with imperfect success. 
The Rev, B. Otheman was probably identical with the Rev. 
Bartholomew Otheman, who attended the Methodist Con- 
vention In Boston, June, 1866, when Messrs. J. E. RIsley 



262 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and I. M. Bidwell were also present. In 1792 the number 
of Methodists in the Needham Circuit was reported as 
thirty-four, in 1793 as fifty, 1793, '94 as seventy-six. In 1802 
there had been a slight increase from 1801. 

In 1796 and 1797 the Boston and Needham Circuits were 
combined under the name of the Boston and Needham 
Circuit, but the next two years the Needham Circuit appears 
to have been separate, and unattached to any District. 
From 1800 to 1805, inclusive, the Needham Circuit was one of 
those in the Boston District, and in 1806 it was a part of the 
New London District. 

In 1 801 the Rev. Joseph Snelling, while of the Needham 
Circuit, preached in four different places alternately on the 
Sabbath, and had formed Methodist societies in Weston and 
in Harvard. On July 12, 1802, the Rev. George Pickering 
stopped in Needham to demand the return of the minister's 
rates, amounting to upward of $100, which had been col- 
lected by the local authorities from Methodists. On this 
occasion the Rev. Francis Asbury was with Mr. Pickering, 
and they were on their way to Milford. Of the ministers of 
the Needham Circuit it may be said that the Rev. Joshua 
Hall was a veteran apostle, the Rev. John Finnegan a quaint 
character, and that the Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt was only 
twenty years old in 1809, when first appointed to the Need- 
ham Circuit, and that he was later again assigned to that 
Circuit. Thomas Orr states that Mrs. Susan Burrill said 
that Whitefield preached from a rock back of where the 
Burrill house now stands on Central Avenue, and that the 
slope was then wooded. The land then belonged to the First 
Parish. 

For years after the meeting-house on Blossom Street was 
given up, the Greenwoods, Charles Hiram Dewing and others 
attended Church at Newton Upper Falls, but in April, 1867, 
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Highlandville was or- 
ganized, with the Rev. John W. Coolidge as pastor. Many 
residents of Highlandville were members of the Church at 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 263 

Newton Upper Falls, and thirty-four united with the new 
Church from the older one. 

In a book seven and one half by five and five eighths 
inches are the records of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and Society in Needham from June 28 to December, 1842. 
On June 28 the following were chosen a committee to manage 
the Church affairs: — Tyler Harrington, Ephraim Cutting, 
Joel Peirce, John Mansfield, Robert Mansfield, John Stevens 
and Charles Ayres. John Mansfield was chosen secretary. 
Mr. Batchelder had entertained the ministers during the 
last year without charge, and offered to continue to do so. 
William C. Clark was chosen "to write to Hadassah Stevens 
at the west to preserve the records of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church and society in Needham if in her possession 
and send them back if she can with Safety". It does not 
appear what became of these earlier records. Various com- 
mittees were appointed, including three to visit "absent 
ones". Of the women then prominent in the Church were 
Elizabeth Mansfield, Eunice Stone, Prudence Mansfield, 
Sarah Peirce, Nancy Loker, Sarah Greenwood and Esther 
Hodges. On July 9 it was voted to have the Sacraments 
administered four times a year and to buy a trunk. Some 
cases of Church membership and discipline were also con- 
sidered at this meeting. On October 8, 1842, John Mans- 
field was chosen treasurer by the committee, whose meetings 
have been referred to. The treasurer's accounts for the years 
1860-8 follow in the book, and from them it appears that 
the meeting-house was sold on March 9, i860, to Michael 
Cavnaugh for $200, and that the money was loaned to the 
Methodist Church at Newton Upper Falls. The committee 
met at John Mansfield's on May 25, 1861, and chose "B' 
Marcy" chairman, and John Mansfield secretary and treas- 
urer. It was then voted to present Joel Peirce with twelve 
dollars. The trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Needham had met at Mr. Mansfield's on May 15, the Rev. 
Thomas Marcy "Stationed preacher at Natick presiding", 



264 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and it had then been voted that as "Methodist preaching, 
had been commenced at the Vilage near West Needham 
Depot" "J. Mansfield and his associates be Empowered to 
draw on our treasurer for Twenty Five Dollars to support 
the Expences of said place of worship during this present 
conference year". The next record is that of a meeting of 
the trustees at the house of Tyler Harrington in Weston on 
November 14, 1866. There were present L. R. Thayer, who 
was chairman, Broker Cromack, Noah Perrin, Aaron Fisk 
and John Mansfield. It was voted to increase the number 
of trustees to nine, and the following were chosen: — Noah 
Perrin, Charles H. Dewing, Charles H. Flagg, Mark Lee 
and Lewis N. Sumner. This meeting adjourned to January 
2, 1867, when Mr. Perrin and Mr. Flagg were chosen a com- 
mittee to consider "having a meeting established at Need- 
ham Plains and report to the Presiding Elder." They voted 
$25 to the Rev. John M. Bailey of the Church at the Upper 
Falls, for expenses "at the Plain". On March 13, 1867, 
there was another adjourned meeting when Brothers Lee, 
Sumner, Charles H. Dewing and Flagg were appointed a 
committee to secure, with the help of the Rev. Mr. Bailey, 
services at Highlandville and at the Lower Falls. On March 
20, 1868, the trustees chose Lewis N. Sumner secretary and 
treasurer in place of John Mansfield, who had resigned, and 
passed resolutions on the deaths of Father Joel Peirce and 
the Rev. Tyler Harrington. The Rev. J. W. Coolidge was pres- 
ent as their minister. On February 5, 1870, John A. Wing 
was chosen treasurer, and Mark Lee secretary, and the 
trustees "for the coming year", according to a record of 
March 18, were Noah Perrin, Charles H. Dewing, Charles 
H. Flagg, Mark Lee and John A. Wing. A small appro- 
priation had been made, in case it was needed, to pay the 
expense of services in Highland Hall. These meetings of the 
trustees were held at private houses, sometimes at Charles 
H. Flagg's on Brookside Road. The treasurer's account 
shows that the property of the older Church passed to the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 265 

one established at Highlandville, and It is evident that the 
former continued, or was merged into the new one. 

On June 18, 1874, the Rev. Gilbert R. Bent and William 
Carter were selected to raise hy subscription $1000 In 
order to purchase a lot containing 20,000 square feet of land, 
which land had formerly belonged to Jonathan Avery. The 
price paid was $1000, and the deed from John Avery to 
Charles H. Dewing, Jonathan Avery, Charles H. Flagg, 
Mark Lee, William Carter and John A. Wing, trustees rep- 
resenting the Methodist Episcopal Church in Needham, Is 
dated June i, 1874. After the Church was incorporated in 
1876 the surviving trustees and John Avery executed deeds 
to perfect the title in the Church. The first meeting of the 
corporation was on September 20, 1876, with Alexander 
Lynes as moderator. He was chosen president, Mark Lee 
secretary, and William Carter treasurer. The Church was 
built that year, and the building committee consisted of 
Alexander Lynes, William Carter, Mark Lee, Otis E. Bowen, 
Cyrus G. Upham, Andrew T. Bemis and John Lee. The 
land was paid for by January 4, 1876, and the cost of the 
Church with its furnishings was about $10,000. For nine 
years the Society had met in Highland Hall. From Sep- 
tember ID, 1877 to March 26, 1882, nothing was recorded 
in the book used by the Methodists who had the earlier 
meeting-house, but In 1882 the records were resumed In 
that same book, and continued In It to 1892. A book in- 
scribed on the front cover "Records of Quarterly and Board 
Meetings of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Needham 
and Newton Lower Falls" commences with the records of 
the Quarterly Conference on April 16, 1867, and concludes 
with that of June 27, 1880; thus two books were In use during 
the years 1867-77. 

The Methodists at the Lower Falls met for eleven weeks In 
the hall at the hotel, and then in another place, presumably 
Boyden's Hall, where one or more conferences were held. 
In August, 1868, the Sunday School at the Lower Falls was 



266 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

reported as numbering thirty. The situation at this village 
appears to have been encouraging through the year 1868, and 
then the records are silent as to the Lower Falls; probably 
because nearly all of the active Methodists lived elsewhere. 

In 1867 Mark Lee was superintendent of the Sunday 
School at Highlandville, and two years later the school had 
a membership of one hundred and forty-two, with an aver- 
age attendance of ninety, an increase of seventy-four in 
four years, as the school had been reported as numbering 
sixty-eight in 1865. In 1869 one hundred and twenty books 
were added to the school library, and many have since been 
acquired. There were forty Church members in 1869. 
There were seventy members of this Church in 1876, and 
it had a Sunday School of eighteen teachers and one hundred 
scholars. Mark Lee was the superintendent. He was also 
the clerk and treasurer of the Church. The increase in the 
Church membership was small for fifteen years, but the 
average attendance at the morning service during the third 
quarter of 1890 was one hundred and twenty-nine, the num- 
ber reaching one hundred and sixty-seven on one occasion. 
There were then about two hundred persons connected with 
the Sunday School, of whom fifty were under seven years 
of age. Early in 1900 the school attendance reached one 
hundred and sixty-two, and the Church began the new cen- 
tury with about one hundred members, which number has 
since doubled. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the incor- 
poration of this Church was observed on Sunday, October 
6, 1901, and by a supper on the evening of the following 
Wednesday. In 1889 the anniversary of the dedication of 
the Church, which was in August, was selected as Chil- 
dren's Day. In 1896 a children's meeting was held every 
Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Of the later superin- 
tendents of the Sunday School were: — Joseph B. Thorpe 
from 1893 to 1898, Horace A. Carter 1898-1903, Thomas 
F. Pickett 1903-1908, Preston Mitchell 1908- . 

During the pastorate of the Rev. John Peterson, who was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 267 

also the minister at Newton Upper Falls, the services were 
held in the afternoon. In 1890 the Young People's Society 
of Christian Endeavor, which had been an important branch 
of the Church for some years, took charge of the Wednesday 
evening meetings, and as early as 1883 the Ladies' Circle 
was an important auxiliary. The latter is now known as 
the Ladies' Aid Society. 

The Mudge Society of Christian Endeavor has at times 
numbered upward of seventy-five, including associates, and 
the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor, which was estab- 
lished December 22, 1901, has had more than fifty members. 
This Junior Society is for youths between the ages of seven 
and sixteen years, and has held its regular meetings on Sun- 
day at 4 P.M. The older Society assumed the expense of 
providing the Church with electric lights in 1900. Preston 
Mitchell, the efficient secretary of the Church, was presi- 
dent of this Society for some years In the later nineties. 
The cause of Temperance has always had earnest advocates 
In this Church, and in 1893 there were two juvenile battalions 
of the Loyal Temperance Legion. 

In 1902 a gymnasium costing about $400 was completed, 
chiefly through the liberality of William Carter, William 
Gorse and Joseph B. Thorpe, and soon a Young People's 
League was formed In order to avail of Its privileges under 
proper direction. In 1906 the Boys' Fraternity, consisting 
of boys and young men from twelve to nineteen years of 
age, was supervised by the County Secretary of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, the minister taking charge of 
the Bible instruction, and of the military drill. In 1906 a 
Men's Club or League was formed, which soon numbered 
seventy. This League entertained the Cricket Club of the 
Young Men's Christian Association at a supper In 1907. 

MUSIC 

The Churches of Needham have had good music for many 
years, and the Methodists have excelled In this respect. 



268 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

During the pastorate of Mr. Johnston his son Ernest ren- 
dered Important service as chorister. In 1902 Horace A. 
Carter organized a Sunday School orchestra, which was under 
the successful management of Mr. Bullock. In 1906 a 
Men's Glee Club was formed with Albert L. Perkins as Its 
president, and In 1907 the Church purchased a fine Estey 
organ costing about $2100, of which sum $750 was con- 
tributed by Andrew Carnegie and $500 by William Carter. 
There Is a Men's Chorus connected with the Church, but 
it is not the regular choir. This Church spends (1909) 
about $200 per year for its music. 

IMPROVEMENTS OF CHURCH AND BUILDING OF A PARSONAGE 

In 1889 extensive repairs were made upon the Church, 
which was formally re-opened September i. In 1892 William 
Carter gave $200 toward improvements of the Church and 
its grounds, including concreting the walks and beautifying 
the lawn. The next year the question of owning a parsonage 
was considered, with the result that in 1898 Mr. and Mrs. 
William Carter gave a lot of land on the northeast side of 
Hunnewell Street, and a parsonage costing $3000 was built 
there. William Gorse was the chairman of the building 
committee, and J. H. Preston of Boston was the architect. 
The same year, or early In 1899, William Carter at his own 
expense repaired the auditorium of the Church, Franklin 
Low contributing carpenter work, and rendering other ser- 
vices. In 1896 Mr. Carter had enlarged the singers' gallery, 
and in 1901 and in 1904, when considerable sums were ex- 
pended on the Church edifice, he gave liberally. From Mr. 
Carter's election as steward on April 26, 1867, he has been 
a leader in this Church, serving as a trustee for forty years, 
often chairman of the board, and at one time superintendent 
of the Sunday School. When he bought the building now 
the Lower Mill of the William Carter Company, the old 
bell, once the property of George Ashwell, was still there, 
and this bell Mr. Carter gave to the Church. In 1897 the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 269 

Church voted to permanently care for and decorate the 
graves of Joseph and Rachel Poyner, as the latter had be- 
queathed to the Church a portion of her small estate. In 
1896 the Church received $600 from an unknown friend 
toward the extinguishment of the debt, which was paid In 
full soon after. In 1900 the Church received $500 under 
the will of Mrs. Dorcas R. Avery, who had long been a 
supporter of Its worship. Mrs. Susan Burrlll gave the first 
hundred dollars toward the cost of the Church building, 
and Mrs. Phebe Gorse, wife of William Gorse, raised the 
first shovel of earth when work was begun on the site. Mrs. 
Burrlll was a benefactress of the Methodist denomination 
by her will. 

MINISTERS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF 
HIGHLANDVILLE, NOW NEEDHAM HEIGHTS 

Rev. J. W. Coolldge 1867, '68; Rev. Stephen Cushing 
1869, '70, '78, '79; Rev. Samuel Henry Noon 1871-3, a 
member of the class of 1868 In Wesleyan University, but did 
not graduate, Boston University School of Theology 1869, 
S.T.B.; Rev. Gilbert R. Bent 1874-6, Boston University 
School of Theology 1854; Rev. William Silverthorn 1877, 
Boston University School of Theology 1859; Rev. R. W. 
Harlow 1880, '81; Rev. Zacharlah Atwell Mudge 1882-5, 
of the class of 1839 at Wesleyan University, but did not 
graduate; honorary A.M. there In 1854, author of many 
publications; Rev. John Peterson 1886-90, Wesleyan Uni- 
versity 1857; Rev. William WIgnall 1890-3; Rev. Benjamin 
J. Johnston 1893-7; Rev. Joseph Henry Thompson 1897- 
1901, Wesleyan University 1878; Rev. Garrett Beekman 
1901-6, Boston University School of Theology 1870; Rev. 
Norman Egbert Richardson 1906, '07, Lawrence University, 
Appleton, Wisconsin, 1902, B.A., Boston University School 
of Theology, S.T.B., was one year In the Graduate School, 
and in 1907 was made a Fellow of Boston University. He 
studied philosophy and theology a year and a half in the 



270 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Universities of Berlin and Marburg, Germany. He preached 
his farewell sermon in Needham August 31, 1907. Rev. 
Elam Edward Marsh 1907- , Williams College 1890, 
A.B., Boston University School of Theology 1893, S.T.B. 
He began his ministry in Needham the last Sunday in 
October, 1907. 

Until 1871 the School of Theology was at Concord, N. H., 
and was called the Methodist General Biblical Institute. 
The Methodist ministers in Needham have officiated at a 
great number of baptisms, weddings and funerals. The 
Rev. Mr. Beekman reported more than fifty weddings. 

The number of trustees is eight, and there are now thir- 
teen stewards. The number of the latter was five in 1867. 
In 1876 there were six trustees and eight stewards. 

The Secretaries, or Recording Stewards, succeeding Mr. 
Sumner have been: — 

Mark Lee in 1868, '69, '72-81, William Carter in 1869-72, 
Charles Evens , Joseph B. Thorpe in 1883-9, James 

Smith Beless 1889-93, Horace A. Carter in 1893-7, Thomas 
S. Walton in 1897, '98, Preston Mitchell in 1898- . 

The Treasurers: Mr. Sumner apparently did not serve 
when chosen, as Mark Lee was the treasurer in 1867. It is 
possible that the former was treasurer of the trustees only. 
John A. Wing was treasurer in 1868, and was in office some 
years, Charles Thorpe in 1 881-91, Charles W. Jones in 1891- 

. On June 15, 1892, the Church voted resolutions ap- 
preciative of Charles Thorpe, a highly respected citizen, 
who died May 2. He had served the Church not only as 
its treasurer, but as a trustee and as one of the stewards. 

Of the men prominent in this Church, and some of them 
its officers for many years, are, or have been, Noah Perrin, 
Charles H. Flagg, Charles H. Dewing, Mark Lee, William 
Carter, William Gorse, Jonathan Avery, Charles and Joseph 
B. Thorpe, Charles Evens, John Thompson, Alexander 
Lynes,^ William Humberstone, George L. Kennedy, James 

^ Mr. Lynes gave the Church important financial aid. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 271 

Smith Beless, Horace A. Carter, Charles W. Jones, Oliver 
Crisp, Cyrus G. Upham, George Clews, Francis T. Probert, 
Preston Mitchell, and Frederick H. Horrocks. The women 
have been most loyal and devoted to this Church, but to 
mention individuals discriminatingly is a task to which 
the writer is unequal. The Women's Foreign Missionary 
Society and the Standard Bearers have been well organized 
in this Church, and the subscriptions by the people to such 
charities as the relief of the sufferers by the San Francisco 
and Chelsea fires have been liberal, and there has been no 
neglect of good causes, many of them not denominational. 
The equipment of the different societies is of the best, and 
if anything is needed, as was a piano by the ladies in the 
nineties, the sons and daughters of the Church raise the 
money by personal sacrifices If necessary. In 1908 the name 
of the Church was changed to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Needham Heights. The Standard Bearers 
numbered forty-four in 1904, and is one of its newer 
organizations. 

ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN GRANTVILLE, NOW THE 
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN VVELLESLEY HILLS 

On December 24, 1846, a meeting was held at the house 
of the Rev. Harvey Newcomb, at which were present, Mr. 
Newcomb, Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Reuben Ware, 
Dexter Ware, FItzwilliam Rogers and Charles Noyes. Mr. 
Newcomb was the moderator and Mr. Rogers was the clerk, 
and with John Batchelder they were appointed "to draw up 
articles of Confession of Faith & Covenant, and Ecclesias- 
tical Principles & rules". At an adjourned meeting on the 
28th a committee of six was chosen to arrange for dismission 
from the Church in the West Precinct, and they adjourned 
to January 7, 1847, but no meeting was held on the 7th. 
A day of "Fasting and Prayer" was observed at the house 
of Mr. Newcomb on January 21, the morning being set aside 
for private devotions, and the afternoon and evening for 



272 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

meetings. On this day the Confession of Faith, the Covenant 
and the rules were adopted, and the Church named the 
Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville. The fol- 
lowing were dismissed from the West Church to form the 
new one: — William H. Adams, Mary A. Adams, Hannah D. 
Pettingill, H. Elizabeth Pettingill, John Batchelder, Rebecca 
S. Batchelder, Dexter Ware, Mary C. Ware, Rebecca A. 
Ware, Mary Jane Dix, George Smith, Eunice Smith, Charles 
Noyes, Sarah B. Noyes, Abigail Smith, Reuben Ware, Lydia 
P. Ware, Louisa M. Ware, Fitzwilliam Rogers, Mary C. 
Rogers, Reuel Ware, Hannah Ware, A. Elizabeth Ware, L. 
Emeline Ware, R. Willard Ware, Susan Winship, Harvey 
Newcomb and Alithea A. Newcomb, twenty-eight in all. 
This list is dated December 14, 1846, and with the addition 
of the names of Silas G. Williams and Mary Williams, who 
were received from the First Church in Newton on January 
24, 1847, includes the thirty original members of this Church. 
A Council was held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Adams on 
January 27, with the Rev. Lyman Gilbert of West Newton 
as moderator, and the Rev. Samuel Hunt of Natick as the 
scribe, but the majority of the delegates from the nine 
Churches represented decided that it was unwise to organize 
a Church then. 

On February 3, 1847, those desiring a Church in Grantville 
submitted to the West Church a lengthy argument, in three 
divisions, showing why the decision of the Council should 
not be considered as conclusive, and asking for another 
Council, which was held at Mr. Adams's on February 24, 
with the Rev. Jacob Ide, D.D., of West Medway, as moder- 
ator, and the Rev. Mr. Hunt as the scribe. This Council 
reversed the finding of the previous one, and organized the 
Church that afternoon. The services were as follows: 
Prayer by the Rev. Sewell Harding of East Medway, Sermon 
by the Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., of Brookline, from ist. of 
Timothy, 3d. C. and 15th. v.," Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, 
Recognition by the Rev. Dr. Ide, and the Right Hand of 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 273 

Fellowship by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert. Six Churches were 
represented in this Council. At a meeting of the Church 
March 5, with Mr. Newcomb as moderator, it was voted to 
obtain a record book, and that the clerk, Mr. Rogers, should 
procure a Communion Service for the next Sabbath. At 
an adjourned meeting, October 6, the Rev. Mr. Adams and 
the deacons were directed to extend to Mr. Newcomb the 
call which the Church had voted to give him on September 
23, and which he accepted on November 15.^ He was in- 
stalled on December 9, when ten Churches were represented, 
and the Rev. Dr. Ide and the Rev. Mr. Hunt again served 
as moderator and scribe respectively. Prayer was offered 
by Dr. Ide, the Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures 
was by the Rev. Andrew Bigelow, Introductory Prayer by 
the Rev. John W. Allen of Wayland, Sermon by the Rev. 
Nehemiah Adams, D.D., of Essex Street Church, Boston, 
Installing Prayer by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert, Charge by 
Dr. Ide, Right Hand of Fellowship by the Rev. Edward 
Dowse of " Sherburne," Address to the People by the Rev. 
Joseph Haven, Jr., Concluding Prayer by the Rev. Mr. 
Hunt, and the Benediction by the Pastor. On January 13, 
1848, Silas Williams and the deacons were chosen a Commit- 
tee on "Religious Instruction", which became one of the 
regular annual committees, as was the "Committee of 
Enquiry and Discipline". On March 2, 1848, a "Fast" 
was observed. 

The house which Mr. Newcomb built in 1848, and where 
he lived, is now (191 1) the home of Richard Cunningham. 
At a meeting of the Church on March 16 the pastor was 
the moderator, as usual, and it was voted to make appli- 
cation to the Middlesex South Conference. The Rev. Mr. 
Newcomb, the Rev. Mr. Adams and Deacon Batchelder were 
appointed to superintend the printing of the Confession of 
Faith and the Covenant. At this time the Communion 

1 The Church gave the original call to a minister, and it was necessary that 
the Society should concur, which sometimes caused delay. 



274 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

was celebrated once in two months. In a letter dated October 
22, 1849, the Rev. Mr. Newcomb asked for a Council, as 
there appeared to be some dissatisfaction, although the 
Church then voted by a large majority that they were 
desirous that he should remain with them. The Council 
met November 8, five Churches being represented, and 
their decision was that Mr. Newcomb had better "seek 
another field of usefulness", which he did, and on June 20, 

1850, the Rev. William Barrows was called by the Church. 
On July I Deacon Batchelder, Silas Williams and Elbridge 
Gardner were chosen a committee to join with the Parish 
Committee in extending the call to Mr. Barrows, who 
accepted on July 12, and on August 22 the Council met, 
with seven Churches represented, and two additional min- 
isters present. The Rev. Constantine Blodgett of Pawtucket 
was the moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Newcomb was the 
scribe. The sermon was preached by the Rev. George 
Richards of the Central Church in Boston. On March 13, 

1 85 1, it was voted to add to the Communion Service, and 
Brother Henry Robinson was to procure the new vessels. 
A record was made of the first death that occurred in this 
Church, which was that of Dexter Ware, who was killed by 
the cars at Grantville station on October 20, 185 1, and 
whose funeral was held in the Church the 23d. The first 
case of discipline was heard in 1851, but the accused was 
mildly dealt with. This Church has always contributed 
liberally toward denominational objects, and in 1854 gave 
$134.23, in 1867 $236.60, and in 1873 $275.56. On January 
22, 1856, Mr. Barrows was dismissed at his own request 
by a Council, and on July 16 the Church called the Rev. 
Edward S. Atwood, who accepted on August 13, and was 
ordained by a Council October 23. The Society had con- 
curred with the Church on July 29, and had chosen Mar- 
shall S. Scudder, Flavins J. Lake and Henry S. Batchelder 
to join with the deacons and William H. Nye, representing 
the Church, in extending the call. At the ordination Pro- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 275 

fessor William G. T. Shedd of Andover preached the Sermon. 
On March 29, 1859, a Council decided that Mr. Atwood 
ought to remain, and withdraw a proffered resignation, 
which he did, but was dismissed by a Council held on Sep- 
tember 21, 1864. On December 20 the Rev. William R. 
Eastman was asked to supply the pulpit, and June 13, 1865, 
he was called by this Church, but declined. On May 6, 
1867, the Rev. Charles H. Williams was called, accepted 
on June 3, and was ordained by a Council July 25. In 
giving the call the Church was represented by Marshall S. 
Scudder, Joseph E. Fiske and Charles T. Wilder, and the 
Society by Ellsworth Torrey, Henry S. Batchelder and George 
W. Moulton. At the Installation the Sermon was preached 
by Professor Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D. The Rev. Mr. 
Williams resigned November 7, 1868, and the Rev. James 
M. Hubbard was called by the Church on December 7, 
accepted on the i8th, and was installed by a Council on 
the 29th, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Joshua 
W. Wellman, D.D. The committee on behalf of the Church 
consisted of Mr. Scudder, the Rev. William S. Smith and 
Captain Fiske, and the Society was represented by Reuel 
Ware, Henry A. Ball, Henry S. Batchelder and George D. 
Ware. There is a gap in the records, which are resumed in 
pencil in the latter portion of the same volume. The first 
meeting of the Church thus recorded was the annual meet- 
ing on March 9, 1871. 

The Rev. Mr. Hubbard resigned, and was dismissed by 
Council on January 13, 1874. The Rev. John L. Harris 
was called by the Church on May 6, accepted on the 27th, 
and was installed by a Council on June 18. Albion C. 
Clapp, Hugh M^Leod and the Rev. Francis B. Perkins 
tendered the call for the Church, and Ellsworth Torrey, 
Henry L. Sanderson and Dr. Isaac H. Hazelton for the 
Society. The Installation Sermon was preached by the 
Rev. Henry M. Dexter, D.D. The Rev. Mr. Harris re- 
signed on November 6, 1875, and was dismissed by a Coun- 



276 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

cil on December 31. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards was 
called by the Church on January 18, 1876, and was installed 
by a Council on March i, when the Rev. John O. Means 
of Boston preached the sermon. The Church chose Captain 
Fiske, Henry L. Sanderson and the Rev. Mr. Perkins to 
extend the call, and Edwin O. Bullock, George D. Ware 
and Hezekiah Fuller represented the Society. The Rev. 
Mr. Edwards was much esteemed, and had a successful 
ministry. On March 18, 1876, the minister, with the Rev. 
Mr. Perkins and Deacons R. Ware and G. D. Ware, were 
selected to revise the Manual, which was printed the next 
year. The Church is therein called the "Orthodox Congre- 
gational Church, Grantville, Mass.", and a list published 
in 1891 is designated a " Catalogue of Wellesley Hills Con- 
gregational Church". 

In 1876 this Church had eighty-five members, and a 
Sunday School consisting of twelve teachers and ninety 
pupils. Henry L. Sanderson was the superintendent. In 
1909 there were two hundred and forty-five members of the 
Church, and two hundred and fifteen teachers and scholars 
in the Sunday School. The Rev. Mr. Newcomb's salary 
was $500 per year, Mr. Barrow's $600, Mr. Atwood was at 
first given $800, which was increased to $1000 in 1859, and 
which continued to be the amount of the minister's salary 
for years. The Rev. Mr. Edwards was called at $1500; 
two years later the current expenses of the Society were 
about $1800, an increase of $150 in six years. In 1879 the 
expense of the music was $100, the rent of the parsonage 
$300, and the care of the Church $75. An organ was bought 
in 1859. The present organ cost $3500, and was the gift of 
Charles T. Wilder in memory of his wife, Mary. 

The first meeting to form a Society, in connection with 
the Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, was 
held in the "Railroad Passenger House" on May 6, 1846, 
with the Rev. Mr. Adams presiding, and Dexter Ware as 
the secretary. There were also present Capt. Reuben Ware, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 277 

John Batchelder, Charles Merrill, George K. Daniell, Fltz- 
william Rogers, E. P. Chapin, Capt. Reuel Ware, Daniel 
Hurd, Israel Hunting, Samuel W. Dix, Ambrose Arnold, 
John S. Bird and Richard Parker. The project of building 
a meeting-house was at once brought forward, and com- 
mittees were appointed, but at different dates, there being 
some fourteen adjourned meetings. The chief duties of the 
committees were to raise money and to select a site for the 
building, which was not to cost over $4000. A circular 
was issued, dated "North Needham May 20. 1846", stating 
that loans and gifts were solicited to build a meeting-house 
on the Sherburne Road " for the use of the " Orthodox Trin- 
itarian Congregational Church and Society", the shares to 
be of $100 each, and in case of loans the payment was to be 
by pews. At this time there were twenty-eight subscribers, 
Reuben and Dexter Ware each taking three shares. A 
lot containing one hundred and forty-four rods was pur- 
chased for $250 of Joseph W. Maynard on September 9, 
1846.1 

On August 23 six men petitioned Benjamin Slack, Esq., 
to issue a warrant for a meeting of the "Third Congrega- 
tional Society", which he did for September 3, 1846. The 
Rev. Mr. Adams was the moderator, Dexter Ware was 
chosen clerk, John Batchelder treasurer, Capt. Reuben 
Ware, John Batchelder and Fitzwilliam Rogers Society 
Committee, Capt. Reuel Ware collector, and Capt. Reuel 
Ware, Dexter Ware, Mr. Rogers, Luther Horr and Samuel 
W. Dix a building committee. A little later Mr. Rogers 
was succeeded on the latter committee by E. P. Chapin. 

' This land was part of eight and three quarters acres and thirty-one rods 
which Mr. Maynard had bought for $1698, of John S. Bird on August 22, 1846. 
On December 14, 1847, Mr. Maynard executed a deed ratifying the previous 
one, to the " Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational Society in Grantville in 
Needham ", and correcting the name of the grantee to " Grantville society". John 
Batchelder, the treasurer of the Society, acted in its behalf. Mr. Maynard and 
his wife, Priscilla B., did not acknowledge this second deed till December 21, 1849. 
The rest of the land bought of Mr. Bird was sold to Reuben and Dexter Ware 
on September 9, 1846, and had a frontage of over six hundred feet on the " Sher- 
burne " road, the Church lot intervening. 



278 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

There followed fourteen adjourned meetings, the last 
one being dissolved on July 9, 1847. There was delay in 
securing the lot, and legal advice was obtained from Judge 
S. Leland. On September 24, 1846, the "Grantville Society" 
chose Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Emery Fiske, who 
had served on the first committee to select a site, Daniel 
Hurd and Reuben Ware to prepare the spot for the under- 
pinning. On October 4, 1847, a committee was named to 
act with the women in furnishing the meeting-house, which 
was adorned with "a. rod & Vane for the Tower". The 
gift of a bell was received in November from Moses Grant 
of Boston. It does not appear just when this Church was 
dedicated, but there was a vote to dedicate it. This bell 
was not in use in the Church in 1909. In March, 1847, the 
Society is called in its records the "Congregational Society 
of Grantville in Needham". On February 11, 1847, the 
Society had voted to have "Regular Public Services in 
Rev. W. H. Adams Hall next Sabbath" at 10.30, A.M., and 
at 1.30, P.M. They met in the "Vestry" March 16, 1848. 

The records in the late forties consist largely of details as 
to the disposal of pews, often by the clerk, who acted as 
auctioneer, there being thirty-three pews unsold in 1850, 
the whole number, sixty-two, having been appraised at 
$4574 in 1847. A plan of the meeting-house floor, showing 
the pews, is inserted in the volume. Late in 1849 the 
Society owed $290.76, including interest, on account of the 
land. Hunter & Neal had been the contractors for the 
meeting-house, but the figures do not appear in the records. 
In 1894, or earlier, the question of a new Church was con- 
sidered, and on September 11, 1900, the following building 
committee was chosen: — Flavins J. Lake, chairman, Lyman 
K. Putney, the Rev. Parris T. Farwell, George D. Ware 
and Timothy Wallace Travis. The architect was George 
F. Newton of Boston, the contractors Robert Wilson, and 
also Norcross Bros. Co. There was also considerable day 
work, and the total cost was $43,000. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 279 

This beautiful stone Church was dedicated In the after- 
noon and evening of February 17, 1903, when the Rev. 
Alexander M'^KenzIe, D.D., made an address, and other 
prominent men took part In the exercises. The annual 
meeting of the Church, on January 2, 1902, had been held 
in the Unitarian Church, the two Churches, or Societies, 
having exchanged courtesies of this nature at different 
times. The old Church was sold to John Croswell for $150. 
When the Church was completed the organ was presented. 
The pulpit furniture was given as a memorial of William 
and Caroline W. Helkle, also a clock for the Sunday School 
room In memory of Harold Keith, and a sum of money to 
be expended In this room In memory of Mrs. M. F. Parker. 
Mrs. Parker was killed, with her son, In a railroad accident 
at Quincy. 

Most of the early meetings of the Society were presided 
over by either Capt. Reuben Ware or Silas Williams, and of 
the later moderators Flavins J. Lake is preeminent, from 
1857 to 1881, and perhaps since. In the absence of the 
minister a Church meeting was usually governed by one of 
the deacons. These meetings were changed from March 
to January by vote of March 8, 1876, and with occasional 
exceptions the annual meetings of the Society have been 
held in March or April, and the last one on record is that of 
April 30, 1896. The Society survives the Incorporation of 
the Church to which it had voted, on March 11, 1894, to 
transfer its property as soon as the incorporation was 
completed. By an Act approved by the Governor on March 
II, 1885, the "Grantville Religious Society" became the 
Wellesley Hills Congregational Society. On April 15, 1884, 
Captain Fiske had been appointed to secure such legislation, 
as on January 14, 1884, the Church had voted to change 
its name by substituting Wellesley Hills for Grantvllle. 

Four baptisms of infants are recorded in the Church 
book for 1857, but without definite dates, and appear to be 
the only ones thus recorded for many years. When the 



28o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

pulpit was vacant ministers were secured, the services held 
regularly, and the communion was administered. The 
records of the Church to 1909 are contained in six volumes, 
and those of the Society in one volume. 

Names of the Ministers to 1881 : — 

Rev. Harvey Newcomb, December 9, 1847-November 8, 
1849. He had been the minister of the West Church, 
in what is now Wellesley. Died August 30, 1863, aged 
sixty years. 

Rev, William Barrows, D.D., August 22, 1850-January 
22, 1856. He was at Phillips Andover Academy 1834-6, 
graduated at Amherst 1840, D.D. 1867, Union Theological 
Seminary 1845. Author of Civil War pamphlets, etc. Died 
September 9, 1891, aged seventy-six years. 

Rev. Edward Sumner Atwood, A.M., October 23, 1856- 
September 21, 1864, Brown 1852, Andover Theological 
Seminary 1856, D.D. from Brown 1883. Died in Salem, 
Mass., May 13, 1888, aged fifty-five years. 

Rev. Charles Henry Williams, A.M., July 25, 1867-Decem- 
ber 29, 1868, Yale 1858. 

Rev. James Mascarene Hubbard December 29, 1869- 
January 13, 1874, Yale 1859. 

Rev. John Lambdin Harris June 18, 1874-December 21, 
1875. Mr. Harris was ordained as a Methodist minister at 
Macomb, 111., in i860, and continued in that denomination 
till 1873, when he went to the Pacific Congregational Church 
at New Bedford. 

Rev. Jonathan Edwards, A.M., March i, 1876- , Yale 
1840. 

Deacons: Reuel Ware January 21, 1847, till his death on 
August 15, 1882. 

John Batchelder January 21, 1847. He wished to retire 
in April, 1861, but apparently died in office March, 1864. 

Henry S. Batchelder June 17, 1864, till his death on May 
10, 1875. 

George D. Ware March 5, 1868 to the present time (191 1). 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 281 

Rev. William S. Smith December 7, 1868 to 1874. 

The elections of Deacons Ware and Batchelder were con- 
firmed on March 5, 1847. On June 10, 1864, Hezekiah 
Fuller was elected deacon, but declined that honor. 

Clerks of the Church: Fitzwilliam Rogers December 24, 
l846-Januar7 13, 1848, Silas Williams 1848-51 (four years), 

Henry G. Perkins 1852-6 (five years), Denison D. Dana 
1857-65 (nine years), 

Flavins J. Lake 1866 (April i9)-i88o (fifteen years), Frank 
L. Fuller 1881- . 

Treasurers of the Church: John Batchelder March 5, 
1847-March I, 1855, Reuel Ware 1855-68 (fourteen.? years 
with no record for 1869 and 1870), the Rev. William S. 
Smith 1871 (no record of any Church officers for 1872 and 
1873), Hezekiah Fuller 1874-80 (seven years), Albion 
R. Clapp 1881-9 (nine years). 

In 1850 Dexter Ware and Silas Williams were chosen as 
auditors by the Church, and it was customary for both 
Church and Society to elect two auditors. In 1850 the latter 
chose a board of three assessors in addition to the Society 
Committee, and distinct from it. 

Clerks of the Society: Dexter Ware September 3, 1846- 
50 (five years). No record for 185 1. In April, 1856, Mr. 
Perkins was requested to record the meetings of March 21, 
May 21 and 28, then existing in temporary form. 

Henry G. Perkins 1852-4 (three years), Denison D. 
Dana 1855-6 (four years), Reuben N. Ware 1857, '58, 
Samuel B. Cogswell 1859, '60, Henry S. Batchelder 1861-5 
(five years), William S. Ware 1866, ''^'j^ George D. Ware 
1868-70 (three years), Joseph E. Fiske 1871-3 (three years), 
Frank L. Fuller 1874- . 

Treasurers of the Society: Dea. John Batchelder Sep- 
tember 3, 1846-55 (twelve years), Flavins J. Lake 1856, 
'57j '79, '80, Denison D. Dana 1858, Charles T. Wilder 
1859-62 (four years), F. S. Monroe, Jr. 1863-71 (nine 
years), Ellsworth Torrey 1872, Joseph E. Fiske 1873, 



282 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Henry L. Sanderson 1874-7 (four years), he held this 
office some years subsequent to 1881, Albion R. Clapp, 
1878, '81- . 

George D. Ware was one of the Society Committee, known 
later as the Parish Committee, In 1856, '57, '59-64, ^66- 
81 (twenty-four years), and probably since. Mr. Lake 
was on this committee In 1855, '59, '73-8 (eight years). 
He has for many years been prominent among the assessors 
of Massachusetts. 

Superintendents of the Sunday School: The Rev. William 
H. Adams January 13,1 848- , Dexter Ware May 1 1 , 1 848- 
March 13, 1851, Elbrldge Gardner 1851, '53, '54, George 
Ellery Clarke 1852, William H. Nye 1855, '56, Marshall S. 
Scudder 1857-67 (eleven years). Flavins J. Lake 1868, '74, 
E. F. Thayer 1871, Henry L. Sanderson 1876, '77, the 
Rev. Jonathan Edwards 1878, Edwin O. Bullock 1879- . 

Assistant Superintendents of the Sunday School: Flavlus 
J. Lake 1867. He was chosen in 1879, but declined to serve. 
Dea. George D. Ware was the librarian of the Sunday School 
for half a century, with the exception of an occasional year, 
when he declined to serve. He held this position as late as 
1898, and perhaps since. Mr. Lake was chosen superin- 
tendent of the Sunday School by the teachers in 1868, and 
their choice was ratified by the Church. For many years 
the annual meeting of the Church was held in March, when 
the Church officers were elected, together with the superin- 
tendent, treasurer, and librarian of the Sunday School. 
There Is no record of the election of any Church officers for 
the years 1869, '70, '72, '73. Beginning with 1874 the annual 
meeting has been held In January. 

EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

Religious meetings were held in the school-house on the 
Great Plain prior to the organization of either the Baptist 
or the Evangelical Churches, and It was the hope of Dr. 
Noyes and others that all would unite in estabHshing an 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 283 

Orthodox Church, but the zeal of George Howland and other 
decided Baptists made this impracticable. The Rev. Dr. 
Burgess of Dedham learning that a number of people in 
East Needham desired "that the Institutions of the Gospel 
as founded by the early settlers in New England should be 
established in their vicinity " generously commenced a series 
of meetings in Nehoiden Hall on the first Sabbath of April, 
1855, and continued them to the first Sabbath in May, 1856. 
On the last Monday in April, 1856, citizens met and chose 
Moses Winch, Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith a committee 
to provide preaching during the ensuing year. The meetings 
were held in Nehoiden Hall during May and June, when 
Village Hall was obtained and fitted for use as a place of 
worship, and the first Sabbath in July Dr. Burgess preached 
the first sermon there. 

On April 2, 1857, those interested in forming a Church 
met in Village Hall, when letters from other Churches were 
read recommending six persons for membership in the new 
Church. On the 9th there was another meeting, when more 
letters were read, and on the 23d a third meeting was held 
at which it was voted to invite to an Ecclesiastical Council 
the Church in Dedham, of which the Rev. Dr. Burgess was 
the pastor, and the Churches in Dover, Medfield, West 
Needham, Grantville and Newton Centre. Moses Winch, 
Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith were chosen a committee 
to issue the letters missive. On May 5 a Confession of 
Faith and a Covenant were adopted, and at one o'clock, 
P.M., on the 6th the Council met in Needham and formed 
the Church. Each of the Churches invited was represented 
by the pastor and one deacon, except that in Newton Centre, 
whose minister did not attend. The Rev. Joy H. Fairchild 
of South Boston sat in the Council by invitation. The Rev. 
Dr. Burgess was the moderator, and the Rev. Edward S. 
Atwood of Grantville was the scribe. The "Ecclesiastical 
Polity, Covenant, and Creed" are recorded on pages 5-10 
of the first volume of the Church records. The original 



284 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

members of this Church were: Dr. Joslah Noyes, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Noyes, Sarah W. Nay, Mrs. Jane W. Pickering, Rachel 
Smith, Charles E. Keith, Mrs. Margaret O'Neil, Josiah 
Davenport, Mrs. Sarah Davenport, Mrs. Peady R. Mills, 
Mrs. Rebecca Bullen, Ellen M. Bullen (later Mrs. Greene), 
Marietta J. Bullen, Mrs. Lucinda O. Kingsbury, William 
B. Pickett, Mrs. Mary A. Pickett, Moses Winch, George E. 
Newton, Pamelia Smith, Susanna Harris, Henry Webber, 
Mrs. Adrianna G. Webber, John Mills, Mrs. Abigail C. 
Mills, the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, Sarah A. Eastman, 
Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., Mrs. Susanna Hardy. On March 
21, 1858, the Church chose Dea. Elisha Lyon and Dr. Josiah 
Noyes deacons, but both declined to serve. On January I, 
1859, the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, who had succeeded Dr. 
Burgess as acting pastor, ended his ministry in Needham, 
and on February 18 the Church called the Rev. Edward 
E. Strong, but he did not accept. On January 10, 1859, 
Moses Winch was chosen clerk, and all of the records prior 
to that date appear to be also in his handwriting. On April 
I the Rev. William B. Greene began his duties as acting 
pastor, and was to serve them for many years. On July 6, 
1859, a Sunday School was formed with Frederick Marchant 
superintendent, Cyrus G. Upham librarian, Cyrus W. Jones 
secretary, and Ellen M. Bullen treasurer. 

The Chapel was built on land given by Charles E. Keith, 
and was dedicated on December 28, 1859,^ when a sermon 
was preached by the Rev. Edward N. Kirk, D.D. This 
building cost about $1500, and continued in use until the new 
Church was ready for occupancy. The Chapel, with the 
land, was sold at auction in May, 1890, for $1905, to Edmond 
Commons. The lot contained 10,972 square feet, and the 
deed from Mr. Keith is dated January 25, 1861, and refers 
to the "Church and other buildings" thereon. Rights of 
way, thirty-five feet in width, were granted from the southern 
portion of the lot to Great Plain Avenue, and to East Street, 

^ The records of the Society state that the Chapel was dedicated on the 2pth. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 285 

by which name a part of Highland Avenue was then called. 
The Evangelical Congregational Society and the Evangelical 
Congregational Church were the grantees. Mrs. Abigail 
Collins Mills was the first subscriber toward the expense of 
building this Chapel, but died before it was dedicated. In 
December, 1859, the Ladies' Friendly Society presented 
all of their "rights and interests in the New Chapel & 
its furniture to the Evangelical Church and Society of 
Needham". 

There is no record of Church meetings from April 17, 
1859 to March 21, 1872, when Josiah Davenport and Nelson 
S. Read were chosen deacons. Calvin Perry was the clerk 
in 1872, and continued in ofRce to December, 1874. On 
May 18, 1873, the Church asked the Rev. Augustus C. 
Swain to become its minister, and requested the Society to 
contract with him. Mr. Swain accepted the call, which was 
extended to him by a joint committee of the Church and the 
Society. On June 25, at 10 A.M., a Council was convened in 
which six neighboring Churches participated. The Rev. 
Samuel H. Dana of Newton Highlands was the scribe, and 
the Rev. Mr. Edwards was the moderator, but resigned dur- 
ing the Council, and the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Larabee of West 
Roxbury was chosen in his place. The ordination services 
began at 2 P.M. Mr. Swain resigned on March 19, 1874, 
his resignation was accepted, and an Ecclesiastical Council 
met in the chapel at 2 P.M., April 22, and the relations of 
pastor and people were dissolved. The Rev. Elihu P. 
Marvin, D.D., was the moderator on this occasion, and the 
Rev. Samuel E. Lowry the scribe. 

On December 29, 1874, Dea. Alden Harlow was chosen 
clerk, and died in office September 29, 1890. He was also 
treasurer of the Church for several years, and held that 
office at the time of his death. On September 28, 1875, the 
Church voted to unite with the SuflFolk West Conference of 
Churches, and the following February appointed a commit- 
tee, consisting of the Rev. John E. M. Wright, Charles E. 



286 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Keith and Deacon Harlow, to prepare a Church Manual, 
which was printed. 

On February 28, 1879, it was voted to offer the use of the 
Chapel to the First Parish from 2 to 6 P.M. each Sabbath, 
"while their house of worship is being repaired". On July 
16, 1882, a call was given the Rev. Lewis W. Morey, with 
which the Society concurred. He was ordained and installed 
by an Ecclesiastical Council, which was held in the Chapel 
at 3 P.M., on September 6, when six Churches were repre- 
sented. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards was the moderator, and 
the Rev. George G. Phipps was the scribe. The ordination 
services began at 7 P.M. Mr. Morey's resignation was ac- 
cepted on January 15, 1886, as he had received a call which 
he felt he should not decline. The pastoral relations were 
dissolved by an Ecclesiastical Council, participated in by 
five Churches, which met in the Chapel at 3.30 P.M., on 
February i, 1887. The Rev. Daniel L. Furber, D.D., was 
the moderator, and the Rev. Joseph B. Seabury was the 
scribe. The Church on the 3d passed resolutions expressing 
their esteem for Mr. Morey. 

The first wedding in the new Church was that of George 
Evens and Annie Ella Graves. The Rev. Mr. Gleason, who 
succeeded Mr. Morey, officiated. 

On September 11, 1888, the Church voted to convey to 
the Evangelical Congregational Society its rights in the real 
estate, which had been held in common with the Society. 
On October 26, 1890, the balance of $500 required to pay in 
full for a bell was raised at a Harvest concert, and the bell, 
which is said to weigh a ton, was rung to announce that the 
money was obtained. 

The Rev. Dr. Avery S. Walker preached in Needham on 
February 24, and on March 10, 1895, and was called on 
March 19, the Society concurred on April 2, and he accepted 
on the 2 1 St. At his installation, on July 2, the introductory 
prayer was by the Rev. Dr. George M. Adams, the right hand 
of fellowship was given by the Rev. Dr. Albert H. Plumb, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 287 

and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Alonzo H. 
Quint, all of these ministers leaders in their denomination. 
Dr. Walker resigned on May 8, 1898, and was dismissed by 
an Ecclesiastical Council on June 8th. He will be remembered 
as one of the able men who have preached in Needham. 

In 1895 the pews were made free, and on December 6, of 
that year, new "Standing Rules, Articles of Faith and Cove- 
nant" were adopted by the Church, and were later printed. 
On March i, 1896, four deacons officiated for the first time, 
when sixty-four persons joined the Church, and twenty-seven 
were baptized. On March 6 was held the first of the annual 
reunions, since a feature in this Church, and one hundred and 
forty-two individuals answered to the roll call, each making 
brief remarks, or giving a quotation from Scripture, Four 
of the original members of the Church were then living in 
Needham, but of them Mrs. Jane W. Pickering alone was 
present. On April 9 new by-laws were adopted, and it was 
voted to change the name of the Church to The First Con- 
gregational Church of Needham, which was incorporated on 
May 5, and the Evangelical Congregational Society con- 
veyed its property to the First Congregational Church of 
Needham in July, 1896. The First Church in Needham pro- 
tested against the new name, claiming to be the First Con- 
gregational Church, and declared that the word "Congre- 
gational" related to a form of Church government, and was 
not synonymous with the word "Orthodox", whatever the 
popular misuse of it might be. In the interest of harmony 
and good feeling the members of this Orthodox Church re- 
sumed in 1897 the name of "The Evangelical Congrega- 
tional Church of Needham", although the change involved 
formalities which extended over several months. On June 4, 
1896, two new contribution boxes were first used. They 
were made and presented by William Roberts, and uphol- 
stered by the Ladies' Friendly Society. On April 10, 1899, 
the Church called the Rev. Ralph J. Haughton, of South 
Paris, Me., who accepted on the 14th, and on June 9 



288 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

thanks were voted to the Rev. Henry J. Patrick, D.D., who 
had supplied the pulpit most acceptably for fourteen Sab- 
baths when there was no settled minister. Dr. Patrick sub- 
sequently preached for them. Mr. Haughton resigned on 
March i, 1901, and the Rev. Frank Philip Estabrook was 
called on June 21, and accepted on the 29th. 

On June 29, 1905, the Church called the Rev. Daniel R. 
Kennedy, Jr., who accepted on July 10, and was ordained 
and installed on October 17. Mr. Kennedy resigned Feb- 
ruary 23, 1908, and although his people unanimously re- 
quested him to remain at a meeting held on March 5, and 
offered an increased salary, he was dismissed by an Eccle- 
siastical Council on March 26. On the 20th the Church 
passed resolutions complimentary to Mr. Kennedy. On 
June 19, 1908, the Rev. Melville A. Shaver, of Alton, N. H., 
was called and accepted. He had preached In Needham on 
May 3d and 30th, and his first sermon as pastor was on 
September 6th. On January 2, 1907, the mortgage on the 
Church property was burned. As early as 1892 efforts had 
been made to reduce the debt, then $8000, but in 1906 
upward of $2000 remained unpaid. During 1906 the money 
was raised, largely through the energy and determination 
of Edward G. Herdman, a prominent member of the Church. 
Members of the First Baptist Church In Needham gave $50, 
as a token of sympathy and goodwill. The membership In 
the Evangelical Congregational Church and Sunday School 
at different dates has been as follows: In 1876 there were 
seventy-seven members of the Church, and the Sunday 
School consisted of thirteen teachers and one hundred pupils. 
Nelson S. Read was the superintendent. At the close of 
1895 there were one hundred and fifty-three Church mem- 
bers, of whom forty-seven were males. Twenty-nine of the 
members were then non-resident, of whom ten were men. 
The admissions to the Church In 1895 had numbered thirty- 
four, of whom eleven were men. The Sunday School had 
shown an average attendance from April i to December 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 289 

31 of one hundred and thirty-two, including the teachers. 
At the end of 1896 there were one hundred and thirteen 
famihes connected with the Church, and there had been 
forty-seven baptisms during the year. On December 31, 
1900, there were two hundred and twenty-three members 
of this Church, of whom seventy-eight were men. Of this 
number ten men and eighteen women were then non-resident. 

It is said that when the new Church was built Mrs. Peady 
R. Mills, widow of Matthias, gave $1000, and that Mrs. 
Joanna E. Mills, widow of John, a brother of Matthias, gave 
$500. Mrs. Mary W. Mann, wife of Daniel Mann, then 
gave $500. In 1893 a legacy of $500 was received by the 
Church, or the Society, under the will of Mrs. Joanna Mills, 
and in 1899 six shares of the capital stock of the Framingham 
National Bank by the will of Mrs. Peady Mills. Both of 
these ladies had made gifts to the Society in 1882, when the 
Chapel was in part refurnished. This Church has usually 
had good music. Galen Orr not only played the small organ 
during the first twenty years of the Church, but furnished 
the instrument. Edgar H. Bowers, another prominent citi- 
zen of the town, sang in the choir for many years, and in the 
middle seventies was designated as the "Chorister". His 
son, Allston R. Bowers, has also been a member of this 
choir. 

Mrs. Joanna E. Mills bought an organ for $500, or $600 
(the cost is variously stated), and it was used in the Chapel 
for years, but after the completion of the new Church it was 
sold by the Church, or the Society, in part payment for a 
new organ. The large stained glass window, in the west 
side of the Church, is in memory of the Rev. William B. 
Greene, and of his wife, Ellen M. Greene, and was presented 
in 1904 by their daughter, Mariette R. Greene. In July, 
1 89 1, the Society bought for a parsonage a house and land 
adjoining the Church. The price was $3000, and the place 
had been rented by the ministers before 1891. 

The first Communion service was purchased in 1857 by 



290 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

subscription, through the efforts of the Rev. Lucius R. 
Eastman, and cost $60 or $70; a chest was bought about the 
same time. On January i, 1897, thanks were voted to Dea- 
cons Snow and Adams for two silver plates presented by them 
for the Communion service, and late in 1900 the Junior 
Christian Endeavor Society made a gift to the Church of 
a set of individual Communion cups. On March 7, 1875, it 
had been voted to discontinue the use of fermented wine. 

The Church records contain references to anniversary 
observances, and note the action of the Church on many 
occasions when delegates were chosen to attend Ecclesias- 
tical Councils, or other meetings. 

The Evangelical Congregational Society, as distinct from 
the Church, met for the election of its first officers in Village 
Hall on July 27, 1857. The meeting was held under a warrant 
issued by Moses Winch, a Justice of the Peace, on July 18, 
in compliance with a petition dated June 6, and signed by 
twenty-eight men. Mr. Keith was chosen clerk. Dr. Noyes 
moderator, John Mills treasurer, Matthias Mills collector, 
and Otis E. Bowen, Moses Winch and Dr. Noyes a "Stand- 
ing Committee". Messrs Keith, Winch and Frederick 
Marchant were named a committee to prepare some by- 
laws, which were adopted on August 3d. On March 16, 
1858, Dr. Noyes was elected clerk, and served for twelve 
years. The records as kept by him may serve as a model 
for recording officers. The Standing Committee for 1858 con- 
sisted of Matthias Mills, George H. Hardy and Otis E. 
Bowen. Galen Orr had been elected a member of this com- 
mittee, but declined to serve. Cyrus W. Jones was the 
collector from 1858 to 1865. The Rev. Moses Winch was 
the moderator of five of the early meetings of this Society, 
Deacon Harlow of thirty-five, Emery Grover, Esq., who was 
the moderator of nearly eighty town meetings prior to April, 
191 1, presided over thirty-nine of the meetings of the 
Evangelical Congregational Society from 1871 to 1895. 
Charles Edward Keith was a founder of this Church and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 291 

Society, and did much to secure its permanency. He was a 
member of the Standing Committee in i860, '64-9, '71-5 
(eleven years), and filled other offices. From 1872 to 1875 he 
had as his colleagues William R. Mills and Nathan Parker, 
both of whom were for some years active and influential 
in this Society. Deacon Harlow served on the Standing 
Committee in 186 1-4, '67-70, '81-3 (eleven years), and 
Judge Grover was on this committee for several years. 
The Honorable Galen Orr was a liberal contributor for the 
support of this Society, and was one of its Standing Commit- 
tee in 1859, '65-9 (six years). His family have continued 
prominent in this Church and Society. 

In 1873-6, '78, '79, the members of the Standing Commit- 
tee were also chosen assessors. 

The first recorded election of a sexton is that of Moses 
Winch on March 12, i860. In 1863 Cyrus G. Upham be- 
came the sexton, succeeding George H. Hardy, who had 
served but a single year. 

On March 14, 1882, women were admitted to member- 
ship in the Society, or Parish, with the same rights as men, 
but Miss Catherine L. Bates Is the only woman who has 
been a member of the Standing Committee. Miss Bates 
was elected in 1894. On May 16, 1882, the time of the an- 
nual meeting was changed from March to the first Tuesday 
in April. Since the Society transferred its property to the 
Church it has met irregularly, and there has been no meet- 
ing subsequent to one on June 23, 1899. The last Standng 
Committee was chosen in 1895, and consisted of George 
A. Swallow, Edmund G. Pond, who has been prominent 
in this Society and in the town, and Henry S. Locke. 

Ministers of the Evangelical Congregational Church: — 

Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, Brown 1809, A.M., Andover 
Theological Seminary 1815, D.D. MIddlebury 1835, died 
December 5, 1870, in his eighty-first year. At Needham 
April, 1855 to May, 1856. 

Rev. Lucius Root Eastman, Amherst 1833, A.M., Andover 



292 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Theological Seminary 1836, died March 29, 1892, aged eighty- 
two years, six months, fourteen days. At Needham Febru- 
ary 8, 1857 to January i, 1859. 

Rev. William Brooks Greene, Yale 1845, died Septem- 
ber II, 1895, aged nearly seventy-two years. At Needham 
September i, 1859 to April i, 1873. 

Rev. Augustus C. Swain, Madison Theological Semi- 
nary (Baptist), connected with Madison (now Colgate) 
College at Hamilton, N. Y. Mr. Swain was at Needham 
June 25, 1873 to April 22, 1874. He died 

Rev. John Edwin Wheeler, at Colby University 1854, 
graduated at Amherst 1857, and at the East Windsor The- 
ological Seminary in 1862, died March 18, 1893, aged fifty- 
nine years, six months, nine days. At Needham April 29, 
1874 to April I, 1875. 

Rev. John Ebenezer Moseley Wright, educated at Bow- 
doin College and at Bangor Theological Seminary, died 
April 13 1895, aged seventy-two years, ten months. At 
Needham July 7, 1875 to April I, 1880. 

Rev. Lewis William Morey, Dartmouth 1876. At Need- 
ham April 6, 1882 to February i, 1886. 

Rev. John Francis Gleason, Kimball Union Academy, 
N. H., 1854, Amherst class of 1858, A.M. 1871, student in 
Georgetown Medical College 1868-70, and at Columbian 
Theological Seminary, Washington, 1870-2. He served 
in the Union Army 1861-4. At Needham April i, 1886 
to September 30, 1894. In 1909 he was settled over the 
Church at Amherst, and was chairman of the school com- 
mittee there. 

Rev. Avery Skinner Walker, A.B. and A.M. Oberlin 
College, Ohio, also graduated at Union Theological Semi- 
nary, New York City, D.D. from Drury College, Mis- 
souri. Licensed to preach by the Third Presbytery of 
New York City. At Needham July 2, 1895 to June 26, 
1898. 

Rev. Ralph James Haughton, Richmond College and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 293 

Seminary, near London, England. At Needham May 14, 
1899 to June I, 1901. 

Rev. Frank Philip Estabrook, Syracuse University, 
Theological School of Boston University. At Needham 
September i, 1901 to September i, 1903. 

Rev. Daniel Rolfe Kennedy, Jr., Syracuse University 
1902, Hartford Theological Seminary 1905. At Needham 
September i, 1905 to March 31, 1908. 

Rev. Melville Arthur Shaver, Toronto University, and 
Victoria College, the latter for Theology. At Needham 
September i, 1908 to December 31, 1909. He accepted a 
call to the Maple Street Church in Danvers, one of the 
important Churches of the denomination, with an excep- 
tionally large congregation. 

Rev. John de La Montaigne Waldron, graduated in 1897 
at the Rev. Dwight L. Moody's School at Mt. Hermon, 
then studied Theology at Pennington Seminary, New Jer- 
sey. At Needham, 1910- . 

Several of these ministers were acting pastors, and were 
never installed over this Church. 

Deacons : 

Nelson S. Read chosen March 21, 1872, and 

April 27, 1873, resigned 1880. 

Alden Harlow April 27, 1873 to his death 

September 29, 1890. 

Asa L. Haskell April 9, 1880 to his death 

July 19, 1890, aged eighty 
years and six months. 

Albert B. Dresser January 24, 1890 to December 

31, 1899, and January i, 1902 
to his death December 11, 
1905. 

Walter F. Snow January 24, 1890 to Decem- 

ber 30, 1896. 

Cyrus G. Upham October 31, 1890 to December 



294 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



31, 1898, January i, 1900 
to December 31, 1903, and 
January i, 1905 to his death 
October 18, 1906. 
Albert D. Kingsbury, M.D., October 31, 1890 to August 23, 

1895 (resigned), and Janu- 
ary I, 1901 to January i, 
1903. 

December 26, 1895 to Decem- 
ber 31, 1897, and January 
I, 1899 to December 31, 
1900. 

December 31,1 896 to November 
10, 1897, when he resigned. 

January i, 1898 to December 
31, 1901. 

January i, 1898 to December 
31, 1900. 

January i, 1901 to December 
31, 1904, and January i, 
1906- 

January i, 1903 to May 18, 
1906, when he resigned. 

January i, 1904 to April 29, 
1905. 

January i, 1907- 

January i, 1907- 

January i, 1908- 



Joseph H. Adams 

George A. Swallow 
Joseph M. Nickerson 
Henry M. Walradt 
Auren J. Whitney 

George B. Haven 

Benjamin W. Rideout 

Henry Shepherson 
Edgar H. Bowers 
Almon B. Stetson 



The deacons were chosen for terms of four years by vote 
of the Church passed on April 9, 1896, and for some years 
were formally ordained. 

The later clerks of the Church have been: — Walter F. 
Snow 1892-4, who was treasurer 1892-4, '96, '98-July 
12, 1907, Albert B. Dresser 1895, ^^^o treasurer, Joseph 
Willett April 15, 1896- , and is the present efficient 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 295 

clerk. Joseph M. Nickerson was treasurer for 1897, and 
William Willett, son of the clerk, from July 12, 1907 to 
October 2, 1908. 

Clerks of the Society: — Dr. Josiah Noyes 1858 to his 
death in January, 1871, Calvin Perry 187 1-4, William H. 
Crocker 1875-8, Alden T. Harlow 1879-85, Charles P. 
Holmes 1885-8, Harold C. Childs 1888, '89, Edgar H. Bowers 
1889, '90, Walter F. Snow 1891- . 

Treasurers of the Society: — John Mills 1857-71, nearly 
fifteen years, Charles E. Keith 1872-5 (four years), 
Nathan Parker 1876, Edgar H. Bowers 1877, '78, 1881-5, 
Albert F. Daniels 1879, Ezekiel C. Frost 1880, Joseph H. 
Adams 1886, '87, 1892-4 (five years), Albert B. Dresser 
1888-91 (four years), Walter F. Snow 1891- . 

The treasurer was also chosen collector for certain years. 

SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH 

Saint John's Church was the first Catholic Church in 
Needham, and services were held in it on April 18, 1875. 
It was free from debt when dedicated on May 8, 1881, by 
His Grace the Archbishop of the Diocese of Boston. The 
Rev. Michael Dolan was then the pastor, and subsequently 
the Rev. Patrick H. Callanan has been for many years the 
priest in charge of this Church. 

SAINT JOSEPH'S CHURCH 

Saint Joseph's Church is built upon what was known as 
the "Ladies' Lot". In the seventies the women interested 
in removing the meeting-house of the First Parish to the 
Great Plain raised money and bought this land, and for 
years it was held by trustees. The corner-stone of Saint 
Joseph's was laid with impressive ceremonies on September 
20, 1891, by the venerable Archbishop Williams, who ar- 
rived about 3.35, P.M. An eloquent address was given, 
and the corner-stone was laid about 5.15. It was a perfect 



296 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

day, and many persons witnessed the beginning of the first 
Catholic Church within the limits of the present Town of 
Needham. For many years the Catholics had attended 
Saint Mary's Church at Newton Upper Falls. The Church 
is free from debt, and the number of communicants con- 
stantly increasing. On Sunday July 2, 1905, three hundred 
and fifty persons attended the morning service, the Church, 
including the galleries, seating five hundred. 

From the beginning to the present time the Rev. Timothy 
J. Danahy, a graduate of Holy Cross College, has been the 
pastor, although his principal charge has been Saint Mary's 
Church at Newton Upper Falls. The Rev. Fr. Danahy 
has been assisted by the following curates: — The Rev. 
Matthew T. Flaherty, who was at Saint Mary's over twelve 
years, but at Needham only a brief time, and since then the 
pastor at Concord, Mass., the Rev. Cornelius J. RIordan, 
who was at Needham about ten years, and for some years 
has been the pastor at Rockport, the Rev. William J. 
Farrell, who was at Needham a comparatively short time, 
and is now the curate at Saint Patrick's Church, South 
Lawrence, the Rev. Frederick J. Allchin, who preached his 
first sermon at Saint Mary's on New Year's day 1905, 
and his farewell in this parish on New Year's 1908, now 
curate at Saint Paul's Church in Dorchester, the Rev. 
Michael F. Callahan, since curate at Saint Mary's Church 
in Ayer, the Rev. Denis H. Donovan, who is the present 
curate. The Rev. Fr. Donovan was formerly at Saint 
Patrick's Church in South Lawrence. All of these clergy- 
men have been of Saint Mary's Church, of which Saint 
Joseph's is the Mission, although the latter is an important 
Church. Several of these curates have been highly esteemed, 
and Father RIordan particularly so. His parishioners 
presented him with a thousand dollars when he left Saint 
Mary's. The Sunday School numbered one hundred and 
twenty-five in 1905, and Charles H. Crowley was the super- 
intendent from its formation until his lamented death on 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 297 

December 28, 1910. Saint Joseph's Church has been en- 
riched by memorial windows donated by the following 
persons: — Jeremiah F. Buckley, Philip Fanning, Patrick 
M^Namara, John Sullivan, James J. Shine, Margaret E. 
Durbin, Ellen and Johanna Collins, Martin J. Walsh, 
Richard Stanton, Thomas Gahaghan, William H. M'^Owens 
and Edmond Commins. In the vestibule there is a window 
in memory of Dennis Crowley, and in the choir are three 
windows: — one given by the Sunday School, another by 
the Choir, and the third, the north window, by John H. 
Fitzgerald. There is also a beautiful window on either 
side of the altar. A fine memorial window was presented to 
the new Church at the Upper Falls by Charles H. Crowley 
some two months prior to his death. 

The fourteen Stations in Saint Joseph's Church are hand- 
some, and were presented by the following persons, or by 
their families as memorials : — I. The Rev. Fr. Timothy 
J. Danahy, II. Michael Mannix, III. George D. Donovan, 
IV. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Foley, V. in 
memory of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Reid, VI. Mary Gallant, 
VII., VIII. and IX. were given by the Lovers of the Holy 
Cross, X. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Michael O'Keefe, 
XL Ellen E. Driscoll, XII. Lewis Hasenfus, XIII. Catherine 
Glancy, XIV. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Gahaghan. The names 
of the original contributors to this Church were placed in 
the corner-stone, and it is said that James Mackintosh was 
the only Protestant whose name is in this list. 

UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF GRANTVILLE 

The Unitarian Society of Grantville was formed February 
8, 1 87 1, and on May 5 the Rev. Albert Buel Vorse was 
installed as their minister, and continued to serve them until 
his death on January 21, 1899. He had been the minister of 
the First Church in Needham. The first meeting of the 
Society appears to have been held February 27, 1871, when 
officers were elected, and the same month the Society pur- 



298 ' THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

chased Maugus Hall, and made it into a Chapel. It is 
singular that this Chapel is now (191 1) John Croswell's 
house, and the old Orthodox Church is his barn, both having 
been removed to Forest Street. Maugus Hall was originally 
the railroad station, and had been moved before it was taken 
to Forest Street. 

In 1876 there were twenty-five members of this Society, 
and the pastor was superintendent of the Sunday School, 
which consisted of five teachers and forty scholars. The 
Standing Committee then consisted of John W. Shaw, 
Rebecca Eaton, David C. Perrin, Harriet P. Lane and 
William Henshaw. 

The records of this Society begin with its incorporation, 
which dates from November 22, 1877. The incorporators 
were Charles Gavett, Elisha Livermore, John W. Shaw, 
George H. Howison, Oliver C. Livermore, Oliver Smith, 
Charles H. Dillaway, David C. Perrin, Josiah A. Osgood, 
Isaac Sprague, S. Harris Austin, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa 
E. Austin. 

The first meeting was held on December 20, 1877, when 
S. Harris Austin was moderator and Charles Gavett tempo- 
rary clerk. Mr. Gavett was chosen clerk of the Society, 
Rebecca Eaton treasurer, and the Standing Committee con- 
sisted of John W. Shaw, David C. Perrin, George H. Howi- 
son, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa E. Austin. By-laws were 
adopted at this meeting. In addition to the thirteen in- 
corporators twenty-seven other persons signed the record 
book, assenting to the by-laws, and these forty were the 
original members of the Society. The twenty-seven referred 
to were Harriet P. Lane, Sarah A. Gavett, Caroline M. 
Lane, Sarah E. Shaw, Annie H. Spencer, Hannah A. Eaton, 
Annie M. Eaton, Eliza A. Kingsbury, M. M. Russell, 
Harris Russell, James H. Beck, Lizzie H. Beck, Olive C. 
Valentine, Elizabeth Eaton, Charles M. Eaton, Carrie L. 
Jenness, Francis D. Fisher, Sarah E. Fisher, Ellen P. Perrin, 
Abby W. Smith, Mary P. Austin, William Henshaw, Sarah 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 299 

H. Henshaw, L. J. Livermore, Sylvester M<=Intosh, Abbie 
Wells and Mary C. Smith. In 1878 the Society received a 
legacy of $5000 under the will of Miss Eliza Powers. The 
first year after the incorporation of the Unitarian Society 
of Grantville its expenses were $1551.47, fully met by the 
receipts, which included $675.41 from the Ladies' Sewing 
Circle. The Rev. Mr. Vorse then had a salary of $1500, 
but he desired to make a contribution toward the expenses 
for the ensuing year, which led to the adoption of resolutions 
thanking him, and expressing the high esteem in which he 
was held. 

In January, 1879, the Society lost by death Mr. David 
C. Perrin, a devoted member, and appropriate resolutions 
were voted at its annual meeting on April 7, 1879. Repairs 
of the Chapel were under consideration in 1879, and on May 
2 the Orthodox Congregational Society sent a most cordial 
invitation to the Unitarians to occupy their Church after- 
noons if the proposed repairs rendered their own place of 
worship unsuitable for meetings. This kind offer was 
repeated, and availed of when the new Church was built 
a few years later. Upward of $500 was expended on the 
Chapel, of which $500 was from the legacy of Miss Powers. 
At the annual meeting in 1880 the date for future meetings 
was changed from the first to the third Monday in April. 
Two years later there was an article in the warrant regarding 
changing the name of the Society, but, although no action was 
then taken, the warrant issued April 9, 1883, was addressed to 
Oliver Smith, "a member of the Unitarian Society of Welles- 
ley Hills, formerly Grantville", which new name has con- 
tinued to 191 1. It does not appear that the Society actually 
voted to change its name until April 20, 1885, when a com- 
mittee was chosen to obtain the necessary legislation. In 
1890 the by-laws were amended, and the Standing Com- 
mittee, consisting of five, was chosen for terms of one, two 
and three years, future elections to be for three years. 

On April 20, 1885, resolutions were adopted in reference 



300 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to the death of Miss Harriet P. Lane on July 24, 1884. 
She was not only one of the founders of the Society, but a 
member of the Standing Committee at the time of her 
decease, having served since April i, 1878, when she took 
the place of Mrs. Louisa E. Austin, who had declined re- 
election. 

Mr. Gavett was still the clerk of the Society in 1890, and 
Miss Eaton was the treasurer. Both of them had held these 
offices prior to the incorporation. S. Harris Austin was the 
moderator of every Parish meeting from 1877 to 1889, in- 
clusive. Mr. Shaw had been one of the Standing Committee 
from the incorporation, and was in office in 1890, apparently 
its chairman during the entire period. 

THE NEW CHURCH 

On May 4, 1886, the Society appointed the following 
building committee: — John W. Shaw, William Henshaw, 
Oliver C. Livermore, S. Harris Austin, Emma L Towne, 
Rebecca Eaton, Charles Gavett, Frederick A. Whiting and 
Frank F. Baldwin. After many meetings and much con- 
sideration the Society built In 1887 the beautiful stone 
Church, which was dedicated November 20, 1888. The 
earlier plan had been to build a wooden Church costing 
about $7500, the more elaborate structure having been 
decided upon May 12, 1887, when the plans of the archi- 
tects, Rotch & Tilden, were adopted. Of the $7800 con- 
tributed by persons not members of the Society Mr. Hora- 
tio Hollls Hunnewell gave $5000. The Honorable Joslah 
G. Abbott furnished the stone. John W. Shaw not only 
gave the bell, but built a fireplace and chimney and finished 
a portion of the building at his own expense, besides bearing 
part of the cost of the grading. Miss Mary J. Faulkner 
presented a stained glass window, and Mrs. Sarah G, Badger, 
Miss Laura G. Dlllaway and Mrs. Clara L. WInton an 
organ costing $1000. Mrs. Badger's gift of $500 for the 
organ was a legacy left in her will to the Society. Mr. Shaw 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 301 

was the chairman of the building committee and rendered 
most valuable service, which was recognized by vote of the 
Society on May 13, 1889. Porter & Fuller were the con- 
tractors for the foundation. The total cost of the new Church 
was $18,288.12, and the old Chapel was sold for $400. In 
1890 and 1891 the Society built a parsonage, costing about 
$8000. It Is near the Church, but on the opposite side of 
the street from It. 

In nineteen years the Ladles' Sewing Circle contributed 
$10,288.43 toward the expenses of the Society. There has 
been no Church organization as distinct from the Society, 
and no deacons. A large volume called the Register con- 
tains a record of baptisms, beginning In 1889, and some 
marriages and deaths. In this book Is a historical summary 
which says that the Society dates from February 7, 1871, 
and that the Rev. Mr. Vorse was called April 3, and ac- 
cepted the 7th. 

ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

In 1 87 1 an Advent Society was organized at Highland- 
vllle, and for years met In Low's Block, at the corner of 
Highland Avenue and West Street, but in 1889 apparently 
had ceased to hold services. Samuel G. Low was the Elder, 
and the other chief men were Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, who 
got his title in 1835 from the then newly organized Bap- 
tist Church in Newton Upper Falls, and John Hastings, the 
clerk of the Society. They had few associates, although 
in 1876 they had a Sunday School of thirty, which was just 
double the number of Church members. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES 

The Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, of the Oakland Hall 
Institute, had services of the Episcopal Church In his school- 
room Sunday afternoons In the late sixties and early seven- 
ties, but It was not till several years after the division of 
the town that there was an attempt to establish an Episco- 



302 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

pal Society, although from 1814 many residents of Need- 
ham had been members of Saint Mary's Church at the Lower 
Falls, which is but a short distance from the town line. 
The effort made in the eighties to have Episcopal services 
on the Great Plain was abandoned after two or three years, 
the number of Episcopalians not being sufficient to main- 
tain worship, notwithstanding the devotion of individuals. 
Charles S. Courtenay, later a lieutenant-colonel, was the 
organizer of the proposed Society, and the meetings were 
in the small hall In the upper story of the Moseley Building, 
since known as the May Building. Services were, however, 
held from time to time, and on October 28, 1894, the Rev. 
Frederick Pember, B.A., a graduate of the University of 
Oxford, and admirably qualified for his work, had a service 
in the smaller Masonic hall In the Kingsbury Block, with 
the result that Christ Church was formed on August 19, 
1895, with twenty members, the majority of whom were 
from Highlandvllle. For nearly five years the morning 
service was in the Masonic Hall, Great Plain, and the Sun- 
day School met there at noon, the evening service alone 
being in Highland Hall at Highlandvllle. At Easter 1900 
it was decided to have all of the services at Highlandvllle, 
and the vestry was authorized to procure the necessary 
land for a Church. They bought 11,600 square feet of land 
at the corner of Highland Avenue and Mellen Street, with 
two buildings besides a blacksmith's shop on it. The latter 
was moved to the rear of the lot, and the other buildings 
were skilfully transformed into a Church by J. W. M'^Cabe 
of Newton Lower Falls, according to plans of Gordon Fisher 
of Newton Highlands. The building committee consisted 
of James B. Lester, chairman, Albert E. Collishaw and 
Charles E. Beckman. 

The lot has a frontage of eighty-three feet on Highland 
Avenue, and of one hundred and fifty feet on Mellen Street. 
The Church is sixty feet by twenty-five feet, interior meas- 
urement, with an altar of quartered oak on which is a solid 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 303 

brass cross, the gift of the Sunday School. The Superior 
of St. Margaret's Home gave an engraved brass altar desk, 
and service books for the altar and the reading desk. The 
picture of Christ, above the altar, is the work, and gift, of 
a local artist, David Richards. The Church is lighted by 
electricity, and has solid oak pews and choir stall with 
panelled ends. At the dedication of the Church, on Sep- 
tember 26, 1900, the Rev. Frederick Pember, the rector, 
read the first lesson, and the sermon was preached by the 
Bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence. 
Addresses were made by the Rev. Mr. Hayes of Saint 
Andrew's, Wellesley, and by the Rev. Mr. Williams of Grace 
Church, Newton Highlands. The Church then had seventy 
members and a flourishing Sunday School. 

The Needham Recorder for September 29, 1900, contains 
an account of the dedication, and a description of the Church. 
Mr. Pember's health failed, and on June 29, 1903, his people 
reluctantly accepted his resignation, which was dated May 
ID, and later adopted resolutions expressing their apprecia- 
tion of his faithful and efficient ministry. On Sunday, 
October 28, 1906, the Church observed its twelfth anniver- 
sary, and the Rev. Mr. Pember preached the sermon. It 
is still (191 1) his custom to preach at Christ Church on 
Palm Sunday. The successors of the Rev. Mr. Pember 
have been: The Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, "tempo- 
rary minister in charge" from November, 1903 to August, 
1904, inclusive, the Rev. Newton Black, A.B. from the 
Philadelphia High School, which has college courses, studied 
at the University of Pennsylvania, and at the Philadelphia 
Theological School, and received the degree of Bachelor of 
Divinity from the latter institution. The Rev. Mr. Black 
began his ministry in Needham on January i, 1906. 

The following have been Wardens of Christ Church: 
Senior Warden — Albert E. Collishaw from August, 1895 to 
the present time, with the exception of the year beginning 
at Easter 1896, and ending at Easter 1897, when Eben 



304 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Smith was in office, Junior Wardens — Paul R. Hudnut 
August, 1895-Easter 1896, Albert E. CoUishaw Easter 
1896-Easter 1897, Peter Willgoose Easter 1897-Easter 
1898, George B. Fowle Easter 1898-Easter 1900, Charles 
E. Beckman Easter 1900-Easter 1902, William H. Stanton 
Easter 1902-Easter 1903, Samson Hammersley Easter 
1903 to the present time. The other officers in 191 1 are — 
Clerk William C. Payne, who has served for years. Treas- 
urer Eben W. Smith, Vestrymen William Mitchell, M.D., 
William Downes, James A. Ackroyd, John W. Lester and 
Henry Godfrey, Jr. 

Six hundred persons are connected with this Church, 
and one hundred and ninety-seven communicants. The 
Sunday School numbers one hundred and fifty-two 
pupils and fourteen teachers. William C. Payne is the 
superintendent. 

On February 26, 1896, at eight o'clock in the evening, 
the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, Bishop of the Episcopal 
Diocese of Massachusetts, confirmed twenty persons, the 
Episcopalians meeting in the Evangelical Congregational 
Church. These were apparently the first services of the 
kind held in Needham. 

HOLY TRINITY MISSION 

Holy Trinity Mission included the territory from Charles 
River Village to Highlandville, and was organized in 1900, 
with the consent of Christ Church, by George B. Fowle and 
others, who had been active in Christ Church, and its meet- 
ings were held in the lesser Masonic Hall in the Kingsbury 
Block. Mr. Fowle had been the superintendent of the 
Sunday School of Christ Church and continued at the 
Mission, which was in the care of the Rev. Frank Hoffman 
Bigelow of Saint Paul's Church, Natick, who was succeeded 
in this duty by the Rev. William Edward Hayes, rector of 
Saint Andrew's Church in Wellesley. The Rev. George Nat- 
tress was the successor of Mr. Hayes both at Saint Andrew's, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 305 

and at Holy Trinity Mission. He was followed by the 
Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, who was for a time in 
charge of Christ Church. From 1906 to July, 1908, the 
Rev. Mr. Black of Christ Church also ofhciated at the 
services of Holy Trinity Mission, which closed with the 
service on the last Sunday in July, 1908, although it was 
self-supporting. 

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 

In July, 1897, Mrs. Estelle Russell Freeman arranged to 
have services of the Christian Science Church at her home, 
36 Warren Street, Needham, and in 1898 a Society was 
formed. In May, 1899, a Sunday School was organized, and 
in July, 1900, Wednesday evening meetings were commenced. 
In September, 1901, the congregation had become too large 
to meet in a private house, and Masonic Hall was secured. 
On August 65 1902, the First Church of Christ Scientist was 
organized, and later services were held in Fowler's Hall, 
until the Society removed to Christian Science Hall, which 
is in a new building on Great Plain Avenue. The Sunday 
School includes all under the age of twenty years, and meets 
directly after the morning service, which is held each Sun- 
day at 10.45. Oi^ Wednesday evening at 7.45 there is a 
testimonial and experience meeting to which all are cordially 
invited. In connection with this Church there is a reading 
room, which is open to the public from 3 to 5 P.M. every 
day, except Sundays and holidays, and also on Saturday 
from 7 to 9 P.M. At this room Christian Science literature 
may be read on the premises or purchased. The purpose 
of this Church is to maintain the worship of God in accord- 
ance with the doctrines and teachings of Christian Science 
as contained in Science and Health, with Key to the Scrip- 
tures, by the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy. The Bible and this 
book are the only pastors of this Church, but Henry A. T. 
Dow is First Reader, Mrs. Lena L. Clancy Second Reader, 
and Charles E. Orcutt superintendent of the Sunday School. 



3o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The members of this Society are not numerous, but are 
earnest and zealous in their faith, and ready to work for 
their Church. 



CHURCH ATTENDANCE 

The numerous and useful organizations formed to assist 
in the work of the different Churches cannot be enumerated 
in this history, but there are a few that should be mentioned: 
The Ladies' Aid Society of the First Parish was formed in 
1852, and has been the mainstay of the First Church from 
that year to the present time. The ladies have worked 
constantly for its social and financial interests, and hold a 
fair in the early winter, and for some years also an annual 
May Festival, both of which occasions are attended by the 
citizens generally, and are regarded as important social 
affairs. Our Social Club and the First Parish Guild, both 
of which were formed for the young people during the years 
that the Rev. Charles A. Allen was the minister of the First 
Church, were valuable for a time, but were not destined to 
long life. 

Number of persons present at the usual religious services 
held in the Churches and places of worship in Needham, 
morning and afternoon, on Sunday, May 29, 1859: — 

A.M. P.M. Average. 

First Parish 188 172 180 

West Needham 162 157 159^ 

Grantville 118 99 108^ 

Baptist 65 67 66 

Evangelical 64 65 64^ 

597 560 578^ 

The names of persons certified as contributing from 1821 to 
1828 to the support of other Churches than that established 
were: — 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 307 

Baptist Church in Weston: — Samuel Sevens. 

Baptist Church in Newton : — Isaiah Fisk, James Rankins, 
Joseph Severns, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, John Jones, Luther 
Hunting, Lewis Smith. 

Saint Mary's Church, Newton Lower Falls, Episcopal: 
George W. Hoogs, Abram Rice, Jonathan S. Bartlett, Josiah 
Smith, Horace Starr, John Hastings, Caleb Bucknam, Lem- 
uel Lyon, Jonathan Bowditch, Samuel Dalrymple, Henry 
F. Bartlett, Luther Ware, Henry T. Small, Michael M<'In- 
tosh, William Bigelow, Nathan Hyde, Joshua Ayers, William 
Durant, Adolphus Durant, Lemuel Rittenhouse, John 
Hastings, Jr., Horatio Whitney, David Ayers, Cromwell 
Whitney, Newell Williams, Woodbury Hill, Dana Hastings, 
Ebenezer Ayers, Ezra Morse, Thomas Wiggins, John Gill, 
William Everett, Hezekiah Allen, Joseph Biglow, Otis 
Smith, H. I. Hotchkiss, Rebecca Stedman, Mary Stedman, 
Amos Lyon of Newton, Eliphalet Stevens of Weston, Jere- 
miah Daniell and Harvey Ambler. 

Saint Paul's, Dedham, Episcopal: — Joshua Brown. 

Methodist Church in Needham: — Levi Jennings, Henry 
Travis, Daniel Dedman, Abraham Morrill, Franklin Ste- 
vens, Aaron Greenwood and Daniel Ware. 

First Congregational Parish in Natick: — Nathan Dewing, 
Jr., Ethel Jennings, Reuben Ware, John Atkins, Hezekiah 
Broad, Elijah Esty, Isaac Biglow, Samuel Morrill, Abraham 
Biglow, John Atkins, Jr., Calvin Shepard, Calvin Sawin, 
Ebenezer N. Pettee, Samuel Lawton, Samuel Jones, John 
Bacon, Amos Bacon, Oliver Bacon, 2d, Rufus Viney.^, 
Arthur Clark and Dexter Whiting. 

Some of these men were citizens of Natick, but presumably 
all were tax-payers in Needham. In 1822 Ethel Jennings 
and Daniel Ware were certified as of the Church in the 
West Precinct, and Enos H. Tucker was "a Member of 
the religious Society in the first Parish in Needham Called 
Congregational ". 



3o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

CHURCH MUSIC 

"Jan: 7. iy2Q, jo. At a Chh. Meeting at yf House of 
B 5 Joseph Boyden. After Prayer, Voted, that it is agreeable 
to the mind of yf Chh that Mf John Smith tune the 
Pfalm, if he pleases, when he is present, & able to do it 
(And read it to (I suppofe) if he chooses to do both. Voted, 
That Deacon Kingsbury fhall read & tune yf Pfalm in M^ 
Smithes abfence till May next; Voted. That Canterbury , 
S* David's, York, Brunswick, Southwel, Pfal : 100 tune, and 
Litchfield or London be sung regularly in the Congregation 
till next May". ''Feb : 4. i^2Q. 30. Voted, That the Pfalm 
be fung regularly at yf time of the Administration of y? 
Sacrament of the Supper, and that Brother Samuel Parker 
be desired to Tune the Pfalm in and for the Congregation 
in the abfence of Mf John Smith". 

The foregoing is from the Church records, and the fol- 
lowing from those of the town: — 

On May 22, 1765, the town voted "no" on the article 
"To See if the Town will lay aSide the Psalms that were 
Compofed to be Sung in the Defenting Churches and Con- 
gregations in New=England ", and also on that "to approve 
of the Old England Church Psalms (Otherwise Called 
Brady and Tate)". It was voted "to Sing Docl Watts 
Hymes in the Publick Worfhip" and "to Agree Upon a 
Certain Number of Tunes to be Sung". Ensign EUakim 
Cook, Michael Metcalf and Lieut. Jonathan Day were 
chosen a committee "to pitch Upon the Tunes that are 
moft proper", and Ensign Cook, Ebenezer Huntting and 
Ebenezer Fisher were the "Two or three proper Perfons 
to Tune the Psalms in the Publick Worfhip". On March 
12, 1770, Thomas Alden and Michael Metcalf were chosen 
"to add to Li* Filher to Tune the Pfalm on the Sabbath 
Days". 

At its annual meeting in 1795 the First Parish declined 
to have a "Chorester or Choresters to lead y^ Tune In Public 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 309 

Worship", but in 1798 chose Enoch Mills, Major Moses 
Man, Capt. Ebenezer M'^Intosh and Nathaniel Wilson, Jr., 
as choristers, and the Church selected Timothy Smith and 
Dea. Isaac Shepard as "Choristers for Sacremental occa- 
sions", and requested "the singers of the Congregation" 
to join "with the singers of the Chh" at the Communion. 
In 18 19 Israel Whitney and Dr. Samuel Gould were chosen 
choristers by the Church, and in 1822 Samuel M'=Intosh 
took the place of Mr. Whitney. The Church choristers "to 
regulate" the singing at the Communion were then William 
W. Mann, Israel Whitney and the Rev. Daniel Kimball. 

In 1801 the First Parish bought a "Base viol for the use 
of the Parish in Public Worship". Michael Harris, Jr., 
was "to use the Same". Harris was a captain in the militia, 
and prominent as a town and parish officer when in his 
twenties. He lived on the Metcalf homestead, where the 
Convalescent Home of the Children's Hospital is now lo- 
cated. In 1807 the bass viol was for sale, but within the 
memory of people now living William Willard Mann, a 
fine musician, played the clarinet, and Dr. Josiah Noyes the 
violoncello as part of the service. Josiah Eaton played a bass 
viol in the choir, and Artemas Newell a trombone. There 
were six instruments In this church orchestra at one period. 

In the years preceding and following 1900 the services 
were enriched by the music from the cornet of Howard 
Tisdale and the violin of Walter E. Morgan. Early in the 
last century Capt. Timothy Bullard played the bass viol, 
and at times the clarinet, in the West Precinct, and Post- 
master Charles Noyes added his flute to the music of the 
choir. For several decades Solomon Flagg, Jr., sang tenor 
in this choir, and on secular occasions, such as a Farmers' 
picnic, often sang Perry's Victory^ and other old songs, 
when he was more than eighty years of age. Both he and 
his father, Solomon, Sr., were skilled performers on the 
snare drum. 

On December 6, 1813, the Parish voted the large sum of 



3IO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

seventy-five dollars "to support a singing School in s'^ Parish 
in the Winter ensuing", and liberal appropriations were 
made for a singing school in later years. Dr. Noyes recorded, 
under date of January 5, 1829, "Singing School opened — 
Capt: Brett teacher". 

There have been many faithful men and women who 
have sung in the Churches of Needham from their youth 
to past middle life, and were always in their places, and 
never received any pecuniary reward. The Eaton family 
has been prominent in the choir of the First Parish for at 
least four generations. WiUiam Eaton, who died in 1876 
at an advanced age, was for many years a member of it, 
and was a brother of Josiah Eaton, previously mentioned. 
Mary Gay, later the wife of Capt. Curtis Mcintosh, and 
her sister, Lucy, afterward Mrs. Charles Brackett, were 
in this choir for a long time. They were fine singers, one 
a soprano, the other an alto, and were daughters of Capt. 
Jonathan Gay, who lived in the ancient Tolman-Gay house 
on Central Avenue, now owned by the heirs of Curtis 
M^ntosh. 

Lemuel Kingsbury, 2d, was the leader of this choir, and 
his wife, who played several musical instruments, also ren- 
dered valuable service. Mr. Lemuel Kingsbury was fol- 
lowed by Lyman Edward Kingsbury, a tenor singer, who led 
the choir for thirty years. His son, George Lyman Kings- 
bury, has sung the bass for a longer period, although not 
invariably a member of the choir as his father was. The 
elder Mr. Kingsbury at times led the music with his violin. 
On April 7, 1895, the 175th anniversary of the Church was 
commemorated, and John Fisher Mills then read a paper 
relative to the music in the First Church since the previous 
century, which paper was printed in the Needham Chron- 
icle. On March 5, 1905, Mr. Mills sang the tenor for the 
last time, retiring after a service of thirty years, and the 
congregation later presented him with a handsome silver 
"loving cup" suitably inscribed. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 311 

In 18 1 3 the St. David Musical Society was formed "for 
the cultivation and promotion of genuine classical Church 
Musick", and Included residents of fifteen towns. The 
three special meetings In each year were held at Framing- 
ham, and the Anniversary meeting on September 6, In the 
different towns In rotation, Needham being one of them. 

MINISTERIAL LAND 
DEDHAM RECORDS 

The selectmen of Dedham called a town meeting for No- 
vember 2, 1710, on account of a school, and "as to an affair 
refering to the Inhabitants of the north part of this town." 
At a town meeting on November 13, In compliance with a 
recommendation of the General Court, notice of which was 
served on the selectmen "Laft Saturday about twelve of 
y Clock", on October 31, 1710, "The Town haue by their 
vote freed the petltlnors of the north part of our town from 
paying to our minlfters Salary so Long as they shall haue 
an able minlfter to preach amongst themSelves untlU the 
generall Court at the Sefions thereof In may next". On 
February 12, 1710/11, a committee of five was appointed 
at a town meeting to report at the annual meeting "as to 
the affair of y° pitltloners of the north part of this town". 
The report was accepted on March 12, 1710/11. On March 
19, 1710/11, "This day It was propofed to the proprietors 
of this town to Grant to the petitioners of the north part 
of this town two parcells of land for publick use for the 
minlstrey one parcell for a houfe Lot and another for a 
wood Lot the firft parcell abutteth north on Rofemary 
meadow & eaft and upon away coming from s"^ meadow 
toward the West [?] and South and upon Rofemary brook 
in part eaft. The other parcell Is on the Eaft side of north 
hill abutting upon the way leading to rofemary meadow & 
Robert ffuller towerds the north containing about 20 acers. 
The proprietors in Anfwer to the pitltloners doe Set apart and 



312 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

referue and grant that the afore s"^ land pititioned for shall 
be granted to the pitltloners to them and their -ers for ever 
for the minlftrey from one generation to another for eUer 
and not to be Sold nor alienated from the miniftrey foreuer 
but to remain for the publick use for the miniftrey on the 
north side of charles River." On May 14, 171 1, a committee 
of two, Capt. Daniel Fisher and Capt. Samuel Guild, was 
appointed to appear before the General Court to answer 
the petition of the inhabitants of the North part. It has 
been said that the total area of this land was one hundred 
and thirty acres, but according to the deeds and plans there 
were about one hundred and twenty acres bounded by the 
present Parish Street, Central Avenue, Nehoiden and Rose- 
mary Streets, two acres on the west side of Central Avenue, 
opposite the westerly end of Parish Street, and twenty-one 
acres on the east side of North Hill. In all about one hun- 
dred and forty-three acres, including the burying-ground, 
which in 183 1 was only one acre. The minister of the First 
Parish Church had the use of a portion of this land as late 
as the time of the Rev. Mr. Ritchie, 1821-42, and at the 
division of the town into two parishes the whole of it was 
appropriated by the First Parish, although the Second Par- 
ish protested for a century. In 1803 the First Parish de- 
fended its minister in a suit brought by the Rev. Thomas 
Noyes, minister of the Church in the West Precinct, "for 
the said Palmers refusing to Relinquish one half of the Min- 
isterial Land lying in the East Parish".^ The control of 
this land by the First Parish was by no means unquestioned 
by the town, which leased portions of it in 1790 and con- 
tinued to do so for years. The various notes due to the 
town for the use of this land by individuals are prominent 
in the reports of the committee to reckon with the town 
treasurer subsequent to 1800. The Macintoshes were among 

* "A Manual for the Congregational Church in West Needham", 1859, calls 
attention to the alleged violation of trust by the First Parish in alienating the land 
and failing to devote it to the perpetual support of an Orthodox ministry. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 313 

the last, if not the last, to rent a part of the Ministerial 
land from the town, which land Enoch Fisk petitioned the 
town in 1801 to divide between the two parishes. In the 
meantime the First Parish voted on January 21, 1793, to 
sell part of "y^ Ministeral lands", and a committee headed 
by Colonel M<=Intosh secured an Act of the General Court, 
February 24, 1795, authorizing them to sell sixty acres, 
subject to any rights that the Second Parish might have. 
The first sale under this Act was of ten acres in 1795, to 
Jeremiah Kingsbury, who built in 1805 the house that was 
the residence of the late Arthur Whitaker. Subsequent 
Acts of the General Court further enlarged the power of the 
First Parish to sell its lands, and in September, 1896, the 
site of the first three meeting-houses, with the land south 
and west, including the old Training Field, was sold to 
Frederick P. Glover, and in 1902 the sale of the cemetery 
and the land to the north of it completed the alienation of 
the Ministerial land. In 1830 Dea. Asa Kingsbury with 
William Ellis, both competent surveyors, made a plan of 
the Parish land, showing the sales to that year, but not 
including the tract on North Hill, or that adjoining Rose- 
mary Meadow. After the town ceased to interfere, the First 
Parish leased portions of its land for cultivation and pas- 
turage, and at times derived considerable sums from the 
sale of wood. There were many years when the minister 
did not avail of his privilege of using this land, or required 
only a part of it. In 1908 Miss Martha Anna Clarke pur- 
chased of the executor of Mr. Glover the site of the meeting- 
houses, the Training Field, and some land in front of the 
Nehoiden Block Lot, which is also a part of the Ministerial 
land. The following items from the town records illus- 
trate the customs of the past: On November 29, 1723, the 
town "Voted that their Should be fouer men Chosen to 
notifie the whole Town to Cut & Cart wood for y« R** mr 
Townsend", and Captain Fisher, Joseph Boyden, Samuel 
Parker and Christopher Smith were chosen. At the March 



314 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

meeting in 1725 Mr. Townsend offered to accept £10 in 
lieu of wood, and on May 17 the town voted to give him £7. 
On March 29, 1728, Captain Fisher, Deacon Woodcock, 
James Kingsbery, Robert Fuller and Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 
were chosen by the town to run the lines "in the Ministry 
land ". The lands of Deacon Woodcock and of James Kings- 
bery joined the "Ministry land" on the west, on North 
Hill. In June, 173 1, John Fisher, Peter Edes and William 
Chub were designated to fence ten acres on this hill for Mr. 
Townsend's use "for His Cows & Other Creatures". A 
rate of £40 was voted, and the fence was to be done by 
August I, but there was delay, and discussion about it in 
several town meetings, and in 1732 another committee was 
chosen, but nothing was done. In May, 1738, Captain Cook, 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Joseph Haws, Peter Edes and Jona- 
than Smith were named to view a piece of land that Mr. 
Townsend wished to have fenced, and the meeting was 
adjourned for half an hour. When they came together to 
resume their legislative duties, the committee reported that 
it would cost £20 to fence ten acres, which was voted, and 
Captain Cook and Jeremiah Fisher were to expend it, the 
lumber to be obtained on the Ministerial land. In March, 
1738/9, John Fisher, Esq., and Henry Dewing were to 
fence the land, and in July, 1741, the selectmen were in- 
structed that this ten-acre tract was "to be fenced in to 
Ds Jeremiah Woodcock". The following February the 
town chose Deacon Woodcock, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf and 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., to run the line between the Min- 
isterial land and that of Samuel Daniell. On September 
12, 1743, the town voted to pay Mr. Townsend £20 for 
fencing this land; as the town had been going to do it for 
twelve years, it is not strange that Mr. Townsend, who 
probably needed the pasture, finally did it himself. In 
1755 the town refused to fence ten acres for a "pafter", but 
in 1761 Amos Fuller, Jr., Aaron Smith, Jr., and James Man 
were chosen to fence "a Part of the Miniftrey Land this 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 315 

year", viz., the east side and the south end with a Stone 
Wall this year", and a tax of £13, 6s., 8d. was voted for 
the purpose. In 1760 a committee was to renew the bounds 
around the "Towns Land", possibly the "School Land", 
but presumably the "Ministeral Land". In May, 1765, 
the town rejected a proposition to sell the Ministerial land, 
"Excepting Proper Places for the Meeting Houfe: Burying 
Place and Training Field". From time to time committees 
were chosen to renew the bounds around this land, and in 
1766, or 1767, Deacon Hewins made a plan of It. For assisting 
Deacon Hewins, Nathaniel Fisher was granted fourteen shil- 
lings, Dea. John Fisher 7s., 6d. for three days' time, and 
Michael Metcalf four shillings. Amos Fuller, Jr., was paid 
three shillings "for some Entertainment" for the "Surveyor" 
and Lieutenant Day i6s., 6d. for assisting and paying Deacon 
Hewins in part, also for searching records and "for a Quarter 
of a Lamb he found for their Use when they were Planing 
Said Land". In March, 1768, a proposition to sell wood 
to pay for this plan was voted down. 

BROOKLINE MINISTERS' WOOD LOT IN NEEDHAM 

On March 5, 1759, Samuel White of Brookline conveyed 
to the selectmen of that town twenty acres of land on the 
north side of the Sherborn road in Needham, for a "minis- 
terial" wood lot. In 1805 it was called in the Brookline 
town records "the Church Lot in Needham", and it was 
assessed to the First Parish of Brookline in 1880, the year 
preceding the division of our town, and was then eighteen 
and one quarter acres. 

CEMETERIES 

The Needham Cemetery Includes a portion of the land 
granted by the inhabitants of Dedham In 1710/11 for the 
support of the ministry on the north side of the Charles 
River. On December 4, 171 1, the Town of Needham chose 
a committee consisting of the five selectmen and Jonathan 



3i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Gay, Jeremiah Woodcock, Thomas Metcalf and Eleazer 
Kingsbery to "Stake and Bound outt a pleace for the Buerr- 
ing of the dead of this town in". They selected the well- 
known place, where interments are said to have been made 
prior to 171 1, the first that of a child in the winter season. 
The earliest date of a death, recorded on a stone, is Decem- 
ber 4, 171 1, which is scratched on a rough field stone in 
memory of Edward Cook. Barely an acre of ground re- 
ceived nearly all of the dead of the town, until the space 
was exhausted, although only a fraction of the graves are 
marked by stones. 

On May 20, 1728, the town designated "the Second Mon- 
day of June Next for to Clear the burrying place". On 
June 24, 1776, the town voted "That the Burying Place 
Should be Inlarged", and chose a committee of seven to 
attend to it, but it does not appear that any report was made, 
or any action taken, and in 1778 the First Parish assumed 
the responsibility for the burying-ground, and four years 
later voted to enlarge it. 

In June, 1837, the Parish voted to allow Royal Mcin- 
tosh and Mrs. Rebeckah Newell and children to build tombs, 
but it does not appear that they availed of this permission. 
In 1839 the sexton was authorized to charge not less than 
fifty cents, or more than a dollar and a half, for the inter- 
ment of a person not of the Parish, the money received to 
be applied to keeping the gates and grounds in "repair". 
In 1842 it was voted "that our Burying Ground be free and 
accessible to any one living in the town or who may wish 
to bring their friends from out of any other town to be buried 
there". On April 10, 1843, Edgar K. Whitaker, Newell 
Smith, George Revere, the Rev. Mr. Kimball and Thomas 
Kingsbury were chosen to see what could be done to improve 
the appearance of the burying-ground, and they made an 
interesting report on June 26. They stated that on the 
14th "a large gathering of the native inhabitants of the 
town resident and non-resident, with other friends met at 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 317 

the Rev. Mr Maynard's Meeting House and after religious 
services and addresses," the company partook of the re- 
past prepared by the ladies near the Church". Ira Cleve- 
land of Dedham and Dr. John D. Fisher of Boston had 
accepted Invitations to speak, and presumably did so. From 
this "Tea Party" the Charitable Sewing Society realized 
$155.17 for the burylng-ground. At a meeting held by the 
women on June 19 they asked that four men be added to 
the committee "for improving the Burial Ground", and on 
the 26th William Stedman, Warren Dewing, John Mills 
and William Pierce became members of the committee, of 
which Mr. Kimball was the treasurer and Mr. Whitaker 
the secretary. In April, 1844, acting on the report of the 
committee. It was voted to enlarge the burylng-ground, but 
not at the expense of the Improvement fund, by Including 
a strip of land "not to exceed in extent ten rods beyond the 
present bounds"; a similar vote was passed in November, 
1846. The size of the burylng-ground, about 1843, and 
prior to the addition of this new section, which included 
Mr. Whitaker's own lot, is Indicated by the walls on the 
east and west. The tombs were on the western boundary 
until the forties. A row of trees Indicates the course of an 
earlier eastern wall, and the present wall Is twenty feet 
east of the former one. This "Committee on the Improve- 
ment of the Burying Ground" continued an annual one 
until 1870, when the Parish Committee was given full con- 
trol of the cemetery. 

In 1862 a form for deeds to be given to the purchasers 
of lots was first considered, but it does not appear that such 
deeds were in use earlier than 1870, when the question of 
selling the cemetery was referred to a committee, as were 
several propositions as to deeds, regulations, etc. At that 
time It was voted to have a plan of the cemetery, but the 
elaborate volumes of plans, showing the location of each 
grave, were not in use till about 1895. After propositions 
to sell the cemetery had been familiar for years, James 



3i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Mackintosh and other prominent citizens formed an asso- 
ciation, which was Incorporated In 1884 as the Needham 
Cemetery Association, but did not effect a purchase of the 
graveyard from the First Parish. In 1899 there was a new 
Act of Incorporation, with the result that on November 29, 
1902, the Parish conveyed the cemetery to the Association 
for $3750. Five trustees with a treasurer are now In control, 
and many improvements have been made. John F. Mills, 
superintendent since 1883, has from the beginning of his 
administration managed the cemetery according to business 
principles and modern Ideas, of which his predecessors were 
innocent. There have been conflicting statements as to 
what changes were made in 1846, when there was a general 
turn out of the Inhabitants of the town to clear up and plough 
the burylng-ground. It Is reasonably certain that many 
stones were then lying about, and that others were taken up, 
and not put back correctly, and therefore no longer mark 
the last resting places of those they commemorate. The 
remains of the Rev. Jonathan Townsend and family are 
in the valley, near the road, and in a line with the grave- 
stone of Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, but prior to 1907 the 
stones were for many years on the hill, and several rods 
east of their proper locations. When the fine new wall was 
built in 1875, principally from a legacy of $300 received 
under the will of Mrs. Sarah Fuller, the line was straightened, 
and a number of graves were disturbed.^ Mrs. Fuller was 
the widow of Timothy S. Fuller, and died February 25, 1874, 
and In 1876 the Parish voted that her lot should have per- 
petual care, which it has since had. At the March meeting 
of the First Parish In 1871 it was voted to have the tombs 
closed, rounded and grassed over. There were then five 

^ The bones from these graves were put into the bank. The writer has heard 
remarkable stories of the skeleton of a very tall man, found when the bank was 
dug into, and of an ancient coffin with three silver handles on each side. The 
burying-ground was doubtless encroached upon when an earlier wall was built. 
The granite stairs to the east of the Fuller monument, leading from the sidewalk, 
were taken away in 1875 when this new wall was made. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 319 

tombs. The Palmer-MTntosh tomb, built in 1803, was in 
a crumbling condition. It was broken in and largely re- 
moved, when some remains were placed in lots, but those 
of Colonel M'^Intosh and his son, Major Ebenezer, with their 
wives and members of their families are in the bank next 
to the Fuller Tomb. In 1909 James Mackintosh laid the 
foundation for a handsome monument, completed in 1910, 
and inscribed with the names of the Colonel and his wife, 
and of the Major and his wife. The Fuller tomb, perhaps 
the oldest, was elaborately rebuilt in 1872, but the Harris 
Tomb, constructed in 181 2, and which joins the Fuller Tomb 
on the north, shared the fate of the Mcintosh Tomb. The 
fourth tomb was the strongly built vault of Moses Gar- 
field & David Ayers, 18 17, from which the mound was 
removed by Superintendent Mills without injury to the 
masonry. Lieutenant Garfield was given leave to construct 
this tomb in 1816. 

The granite receiving tomb, and its duplicate in the yard 
of the Church in Wellesley, were built in 1854 by the town, 
under the direction of a committee consisting of the select- 
men and Sextons George Jennings and George E. Eaton. 
The work was done by William Jones, a skilful mason. 
Five ancient gravestones have disappeared since 1861, pre- 
sumably when the wall was built. The stones missing are 
those of Joseph Danels, the ancestor of a family prominent 
in Needham, who died in 1720, of Ester Smith, died 1724, 
aged 4 yrs., of Margret Wodcok, died 1727, of Nathaniel 
Tolman, died 1729, and of Israel Gill, died 1744, aged 3 yrs.^ 
The present gravestone of Nathaniel Tolman was formerly 
that of Mrs. Lucy S. Lyon, who died in 1833, and whose 
name was cut on a new monument in a lot in 1876, when 
the slate gravestone was abandoned. Subsequent to 1890 
Mrs. Anna M. Tolman Pickford obtained this stone, had 
it skilfully re-cut in imitation of the lost slab, and erected 
where the grave of her kinsman Tolman is said to be. Mr. 

* The spelling of the names is verbatim from the missing stones. 



320 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Mills recovered twenty-four footstones from culverts in 
1898, and all but one, possibly two, were restored to their 
proper locations. In the years 1904-07 the elaborate Greene 
Mausoleum was built by Mariette R. Greene, and cost, 
with the land, upward of $20,000. 

On April 14, 1864, Lauren Kingsbury, Galen Orr and 
Abijah Greenwood were chosen a committee by the town to 
report on "enlarging the Burying Ground in the Centre 
of the Town", but there was no result, and in 1873 the 
selectmen urged the town to establish a new cemetery remote 
from population. In 1874 the question of establishing two 
cemeteries was referred to a committee consisting of Dr. 
Elbridge G. Leach, William R. Mills, Enos H. Tucker, L. 
Allen Kingsbury and Lewis Wight. The following March 
the committee reported that the town should buy of Jona- 
than Fuller the land which later became Woodlawn Ceme- 
tery, and add to it the land which the Wellesley Congrega- 
tional Church had acquired some years before for cemetery 
purposes, but had never used; these two parcels together 
would be thirty acres. For the East they advised purchas- 
ing the First Parish Cemetery, and adding to it the O'Neil 
and Morton properties, thus increasing the acreage of that 
cemetery from eighteen to forty acres. William R. Mills, 
a good representative of the old sentiments and traditions 
of the town, made an able minority report of eleven pages, 
reviewing the history of the burying-ground, and asserting 
that the town still owned it. He referred to the tender 
associations with the old yard, and urged the inhabitants 
of the East and West to be united in death if they could not 
be in life. Mr. Mills did not think the committee fairly 
made up, and questioned their judgment in advising the 
purchase of the Fuller land for the West, believing, if they 
must have a separate cemetery, that there was a large tract 
of more available land south of Wellesley Avenue. The 
town dismissed the whole matter, but ordered the reports 
printed. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 321 

FUNERALS 

In the old days the bearers actually bore the remains to 
the burying-ground, often walking with their burden for 
miles, and it is perhaps not strange that stimulant was 
required. Later an open wagon painted black was used, 
and by 1802 the parishes appear to have owned "Herses", 
but in 1845 the town purchased two hearses for $230, and 
in 1867 two new "funeral cars" for $1300, thus for a time 
owning four hearses, until one of them was sold to Daniel 
Warren for $15. The committee to buy the "funeral cars" 
in 1867 consisted of James Mackintosh, Moses Winch and 
Sexton George E. Eaton, and in 1868 two new hearse- 
houses were built by the town. The one in the West cost 
$264.75, and was built by Hezekiah Fuller. One of the old 
hearse-houses was moved in 1874, ^^^ '^^ ^o"^ the tool- 
house of the Needham Cemetery. In the early seventies 
there was an old hearse kept in a shed at the east end of the 
line of horse sheds in the rear of the First Church. The 
town also owned the biers, which usually cost $10 each, and 
kept them in repair. 

On January 29, 1717/8, the town voted "to provid a 
buerall Cloath", and in 1753 Timothy Newell was granted 
£3, IIS. "for Broad Cloth and Triming for a Poole or Grave 
Cloth", presumably the same referred to in the order of 
July 15, 1754, allowing John Brown 5s., 4d. "for Making 
up a Grave Cloth". In March, 1807, the First Parish voted 
to buy a "Burying cloath". On January 30, 1753, Dea. 
Josiah Newell was granted 9s., 3d. "for Six pair of Gloves 
for the funeral of Nicholas Mutter", and three years later 
seven pairs were required for the funeral of a man who had 
been a great expense to the town. In 1773 the town buried 
a French and Indian War veteran from the house of Michael 
Bacon, and the cost of the gloves was considerable. 

The town paid for "Lining to Lay out" the poor, and In 
1783 It cost four shillings for each sheet used for that pur- 



322 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

pose, but in 1843 "grave Cloths" for a woman were valued 
at $1.65. In 1825 "cambrick" was used for "gownes" to 
lay out both men and women, but In 1799 three yards of 
India cotton, with tape and thread, had been used for the 
shroud of a poor woman. 

There was no Church bell in town till 181 1, and on March 
30, 18 1 2, the First Parish adopted elaborate regulations, 
prepared by the Rev. Mr. Palmer, for ringing the bell on 
various occasions, including the "passing bell" the morning 
after a person deceased. When the writer was a boy it was 
customary for Charles A. Hines, or Francis Asbury Burrill, 
to toll the Church bell as soon as a death was known, and 
the strokes were counted by many people who stopped to 
listen, as now when an alarm of fire is given. In the early 
seventies Sumner B. Mills had a long-haired hound named 
Butler, with a powerful voice, and whenever the bell tolled 
Butler stationed himself on the terrace in front of the Mills 
house, which was a short distance west of the Church, and 
in a most effective manner howled in unison with the bell, 
beginning and ceasing with each stroke. The tolling con- 
tinued for a long time when the decease of an aged person 
was thus announced. In the first half of the last century 
the town paid for tolling when one of the poor died. For 
many years "Frank" Burrill, referred to as tolling the bell, 
was one of the best known, most officious and omnipresent 
individuals in town. See sketch of him later in this volume. 

In 1727 Robert Fuller was granted seven shillings for 
digging the grave of the first person assisted by the Town 
of Needham, and in 1753 Dea. Josiah Newell acted as 
undertaker. From 1756 to 1775 Theophilus Richardson, 
Moses Dewing and Josiah Lyon were the gravediggers, 
and 2s., 8d. appears to have been their regular charge for 
digging the grave of an adult. A short time before the war 
this was increased to 3s., 4d., and in 1774 Mr. Richardson 
was paid by the town 2s., 8d. for digging the grave for a 
child. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 323 

Amos Fuller was undertaker and gravedlgger for twenty 
years, or more, his career extending into the last century. 
Elijah Ware dug graves in 1787, '88, and Epes Mansfield 
in 1794. In 1804 Luther Dana, the first sexton of the West 
Precinct, charged $2.50 for the grave of a woman, including 
"extra in diging away the snow &c", and seventy-five 
cents "for Liquor he paid for the people who afsisted in 
burying the said Mary". Until late in the nineteenth cen- 
tury no attempt was made to open graves in the cemetery 
in East Needham when the ground was frozen hard, and 
some winters the receiving tomb had many temporary oc- 
cupants. Charles A. Hines dug graves for thirty years, or 
more, between 1840 and 1880, and after his time Luther 
Kingsbury, a worthy and respected citizen, was long a 
familiar figure in the cemetery, serving as "first grave- 
digger". He was lame and bent, and appeared aged and 
feeble, but was absent from his work only four days prior 
to his death on May 4, 1904, and the grave of a child, made 
by an associate, alone intervened between the last one dug 
by Mr. Kingsbury and his own. 

Capt. Ebenezer Fisher, who lived in the old house on the 
corner of Central Avenue and Charles River Street, made 
the coffins for more than one generation, and prior to the 
depreciation of the currency charged the town from six 
shillings to 7s., 4d. for the coffin of an adult, and some- 
times not more than is., 9d. for that of a child. In 1781 he 
was granted £80 in currency for making the coffins for two 
widows, who had long been on the town, and who died in 
1780. Amos Fuller was allowed £24 of the same kind of 
money for digging their graves. From 1783 to 1800 the town 
paid from $2 to 13s., 6d. for the coffins of grown people, 
and Joseph Mudge, John Tolman and John Clark made 
coffins during this period. 

It is difficult to judge of the cost of the funerals of the well- 
to-do from prices paid by the town, but from an old bill it 
appears that in 1802 Amos Fuller charged John Tolman 



324 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

only $6 "for his mothers Coffin, diging the Grave and 
attendance". 

The sextons of the West Precinct, Luther Smith, 2d, 
1815-32, and Dea. Hezeklah Fuller, 1833-50, often furnished 
coffins, but William Eaton, Jr., and his sons, evidently 
made most of the coffins for the town from about 1825 until 
it became the custom to buy them ready made. The ven- 
erable Augustus Eaton said that It was often necessary to 
work at night and on Sunday in order to have the coffin 
ready in season, and there were Instances when It was made 
before the death of a person fatally ill. Richard Boynton, 
well remembered by some of our citizens, also made coffins. 
The town paid $3 to $4 for the coffin for an adult and $2, or 
less, for that of a child during the first half of the last century. 

When a certain man died at a great age, who had been 
prominent In Needham, but in his last days obliged to ask 
aid, the town expended more than usual in order that the 
coffin might have "trimlngs". 

From 1890 to 1895 Charles Curtis Greenwood contributed 
to the Dedham Historical Register "epitaphs from the 

OLD BURYING GROUND, NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. With 

Notes." After Mr. Greenwood's decease In 1897 George 
Kuhn Clarke edited the balance of the manuscript contain- 
ing two hundred and thirty epitaphs, which appeared in the 
Dedham Historical Register in 1897 and 1898. The latter 
year a reprint edition of sixty-five copies was Issued, con- 
taining six hundred and twenty-five epitaphs and Including 
nearly all of the inscriptions to the year 1861; also the 
dates of upward of five hundred births, baptisms, marriages 
and deaths, not found upon the stones. 

SEXTONS AND SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE CEMETERY IN 
EAST NEEDHAM 

Timothy Smith 1800, Capt. John Tolman 1 801-4 (four 
years), Royal Mcintosh 1805-7 (three years), Capt. Jona- 
than Gay 1808-11, '13, '17-25, '28, probably also in 1826 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 325 

(sixteen years), Israel Whitney, Esq., 1812, '14-16, '29, 
'31-9, probably also in 1830 (fifteen years), Capt. Abijah 
Greenwood 1827, Dea. Thomas Kingsbury 1840-50 (eleven 
years), George E. Eaton 1851-73 (twenty-three years), 
Charles Willard Morton 1873, as associate of Mr. Eaton, 
1874-82 alone (ten years), John F. Mills January 8, 1883- . 

The election was held in March until 1874. At the parish 
meeting on December 28, 1874, the office of superintendent 
was created, and that of sexton discontinued. For nearly 
two years the title of superintendent had been used by 
Mr. Morton. 

Officers of the Needham Cemetery Association: — Tempo- 
rary president Edgar H. Bowers, treasurer William Moseley, 
resigned November 22, 1902, clerk George Willard Tisdale; 
all chosen on January 16, 1900. 

Trustees : — William Carter 1903- , chosen president by 
the trustees on January 19, Dea. William Moseley 1903- 
April, 1904 (resigned), George Willard Tisdale 1903- , 
Edgar H. Bowers 1903- , Emery Grover 1903- , George 
K. Clarke 1904 (April 26)-September 8, 1910 (resigned), 
Joseph B. Thorpe, April 191 1- . 

Treasurers: — Emery Grover, temporary, succeeding Mr. 
Moseley on November 29, 1902, George Lyman Kingsbury 
January, 1903-April, 1904, Harrie S. Whittemore 1904- 
June, 1906 (resigned), clerk 1903-6, Thomas Sutton June 2, 
1906- , also clerk. 

The first election of officers after the purchase of the ceme- 
tery was on January 5, 1903, when trustees were chosen. 

WEST NEEDHAM 

About 1774 a graveyard was commenced south of the 
location selected for the new meeting-house in the West, 
but the earliest interment there represented by a grave- 
stone is that of Ebenezer Huntting, who died June 22, 1777, 
aged twenty-two years, a victim to disease contracted in 
the army. The burying-ground was later enlarged, and 



326 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Miss Betsey Brown, who died in 1855, left a bequest, from 
which the Church realized about $6000, for its further exten- 
sion, and in 1858 land was purchased west of the grave- 
yard, but in 1871 this was sold, and land bought on Welles- 
ley Avenue. This old graveyard was sadly neglected for 
years and suffered from vandalism, although a benefactor 
of Wellesley College is buried there, and interments have 
been made within a few years. In 1898, at the time of the 
Centennial of the Church, there was some attempt to clear 
up, and in 1906 a Village Improvement Society did effective 
work, and without offending those who reverence "God's 
acre". In the past there has been much done in this yard 
that was objectionable to the antiquary. The roads through 
the graveyard were constructed years ago, and it is not 
clear what happened then, but there are graves under these 
roads. 

WOODLAWN CEMETERY 

On May 2, 1871, the town granted to the Wellesley Con- 
gregational Society the right to use for a cemetery "any 
land that they may buy of Jonathan and Edwin Fuller and 
James Welsh, either or all of them"; an Act of the General 
Court had been obtained March 24, 1871. This land, which 
is on Wellesley Avenue, was purchased in 1871, but was 
sold, and land on Brook Street acquired, which became 
Woodlawn Cemetery in 1877. This exchange was ratified 
by vote of the town on April i, 1878. The remains of more 
than two hundred persons have been removed from the 
graveyard in Wellesley to this one, and the Wellesley Con- 
gregational Society owns a series of lots in the northern 
section, where are about forty ancient slate stones brought 
from the old yard, with the bones of those that they com- 
memorate. In many instances the foot-stones are said to 
have been left in the old graves. In 1882 the Wellesley 
Congregational Society sold the cemetery to a corporation 
for $1800 and $1000 in stock, and later a portion of this 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 327 

stock was transferred in exchange for the lots In Woodlawn 
Cemetery, which are credited to the Betsey Brown Fund. 

GRAVEYARD IN NORTH NATICK 
The old graveyard on Main Street, North Natick, is the 
burial place of many early inhabitants of Needham, some of 
their gravestones bearing dates prior to 1750. Since 18 12 
some residents of the Lower Falls, Needham side, have 
been laid to rest in the yard of Saint Mary's Church. For 
an elaborate account of these graveyards see 

EPITAPHS FROM GRAVEYARDS IN WELLESLEY (FORMERLY 
WEST needham), north NATICK, AND SAINT MARY's 
CHURCHYARD IN NEWTON LOWER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, 

with Genealogical and Biographical Notes by george kuhn 

CLARKE, LL.B., I9OO. 

This book contains five hundred and forty-five dates of 
births, baptisms, marriages and deaths not found upon the 
stones. 

SAINT MARY'S CEMETERY 

The greater part of the land now this cemetery was sold 
at auction on December 15, 1873, by Samuel E. Sewall of 
Melrose, guardian of Amasa Winchester, the ward owning 
over two hundred acres in Needham. The property was 
bought for $2873.73 on behalf of Archbishop Williams, and 
the deed stated that the area was thirty-five acres and 
21,916 square feet. 

In March, 1879, the town consented that the Turner lot, 
which is one half acre between Wellesley Avenue and Cedar 
Street, should be used for a cemetery. It had been pur- 
chased the previous June of Mrs. Eliza Morgan, formerly 
Mrs. John Turner,, who had married Henry B. Morgan of 
Newton. 

Mrs. Bridget Egan, wife of Patrick Egan, died September 
7, 1878, aged sixty-five years, and was the first to be buried 
in this cemetery, which in 191 1 has many tenants, and 
contains some fine monuments. 



^Ci)00ls! 



Until 1795 the school-houses were owned by proprietors, 
and there is but little reference to them in the town records. 
On May 12, 17 14, the town voted that "Matthew Tamling 
& John Fisher Should teach Children to read and wright". 
Both men were residents of the town, and Mr. Fisher was a 
prominent member of a prominent family. On January 14, 
1718/19, the town voted to have a "moving Schoole and 
Keep* at three places in the Town", and appropriated £6, 
which Jeremiah Woodcock, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and John 
Smith, Jr., were to expend in carrying out the vote. In 
October, 17 19, Mr. Woodcock had an order for £2 for 
taking care of the school one month, which probably in- 
cluded procuring and paying a teacher, and in March, 
1719/20, John Smith, Jr., had £1 "for taking y^ care of y^ 
Scholle" for two months. At the annual meeting on March 
21, 1720/1, the town directed the selectmen to take "pru- 
dent Care" to have a school "for the good of the town & 
advantag of Childran", and appropriated £6 "for y® Charg 
of y° Schoole". On December 11 Ensign Thomas Fuller 
and John Fisher were appointed "to treat with mr Danill 
Fuller to keep Schoole", and he was paid £8 for teaching 
fifteen weeks, probably in different parts of the town. Mr. 
Fuller was born April 20, 1699, son of Thomas and Esther 
(Fisher) Fuller, graduated from Yale College in 1721 (A.M.), 
and became a minister. The foregoing is all the information 
contained in the records of Needham as to its schools and 
teachers during the first decade of its existence as a town. 
A school is supposed to have been kept on our side of the 
river for a time before the incorporation. 




WEST END SCHOOL-HOUSE 




JONATHAN BACON S HOUSE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 329 

On February 27, 1722/3, the selectmen received £5 from 
the executors of Samuel Aldridge, a gift from Mr. Aldridge 
for the maintenance of the school, and on November 29 
the town voted to have "a Stated Schoole", and granted 
£6 for it. On January 11, 1725, £15 were appropriated, 
and the Inhabitants of the West End, The Leg, were to 
have their share of the money to maintain "a Schoole 
amongst them". It was also voted "that their Should be 
a Schoole Keept in four parts of the town", viz., one near 
the house of John Smith, another near the home of Ephraim 
Ware, who apparently lived close to the Rosemary Brook, 
where a dam later formed Longfellow's Pond, the third 
near the house of Deacon Woodcock, and the fourth near 
Joshua Smith's. Stephen Bacon was to receive the money 
"Belonging to the Weft End of the Town for thare benefit 
of a school for the yeare 1725". There were three school- 
houses in the West End prior to 1800, and the first one is 
said to have stood on land now owned by Dea. Willard Amory 
Wight, the second on the estate of the heirs of Edmund M. 
Wood, and the third, a well-remembered building, stood 
close by the road, at the foot of the hill, on the west side 
of Bacon Street. The site of the latter is owned by the heirs 
of John Bacon, 3d. One of the school-houses was of brick, 
presumably the second, as the earliest was a "moving 
school" and hauled about by oxen, and is said to have been 
drawn as far as Wellesley Flills. On May 16, 1726, the town 
considered a proposition to build a school-house, and the 
following March the need of a "chool houfe or houfen" 
engaged attention, but without immediate results in either 
instance. On October 3, 1726, the town had voted to peti- 
tion the General Court that the unimproved lands of non- 
residents might "be Rated for the use of the Chool". Other 
quotations from our quaint old records indicate that for 
some years "Chool" was a favorite spelling of "School". 

On May 17, 1727, two petitions were before the town, 
the first, dated May 13, was signed by Jonathan Dewing 



330 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and ten other men, and stated that the westerly Inhabitants 
had been to the expense of purchasing and moving a school- 
house, and requested the town to establish a place for it 
"Neare the place where it Now ftandeth". The town 
consented, provided the petitioners would pay for the land. 
This quaint petition is printed verbatim In the book known 
as Clarke's Wellesley Epitaphs, pages 126 and 127. The 
location of the building was probably the one near Widow 
"Orgiles" (Orgills), which the town voted on May 20, 1728, 
to "DIfalow". The other petition was signed by Ebenezer 
Ware and twenty-six others, and asked the town to build 
a school-house "att the Meetting Houfe", and the yeas 
"had it". At the annual meeting in 1743/4 there was an 
article In the warrant to annul this vote of May 17, 1727, 
and on March 11, 1754, the town declined to build a school- 
house near the meeting-house. At the same May meeting 
in 1727 it was voted that inhabitants that subscribed for 
no place for a school should pay "to the School Neareft 
there Dwellings". On May 6, 1728, a petition of Joslah 
KIngsbery and twenty-four other men living In the west 
part of the town was presented, and they pledged them- 
selves to pay William Chub if he would build a school-house 
between the houses of Nathaniel Bullard and Henry Pratt. 
On June 24 the same men took measures to obtain a school- 
house, as their plan to build one near the house of Daniel 
Pratt had been approved by the town on May 20, when £12 
were appropriated for the schools. The subscription to 
pay Mr. Chub amounted to £31, los., and apparently by 
1732 a school-house was located on Linden Street, Wel- 
lesley Hills, near Mrs. John W. Shaw's house which was oc- 
cupied in 1905 by the Livermore family. The Rev. Daniel 
Kimball in his valuable series of historical papers, given 
before the Lyceum in the winter of 1 841/2, said that 
there was such a school-house, and mentions 1732 as the 
date. 
There does not appear to have been any school in what is 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 331 

now Wellesley Hills at the time of the War of the Revolution, 
or for seventy-five years after, and the fate of the building 
of 1732 is not revealed. John Smith was paid £3 for keep- 
ing school in January, 1726/7, and Samuel Wilson, also a 
Needham man, a like sum for teaching the following month 
in the same winter. Mr. Smith had a school in April and 
May, 173 1. Joseph Pynchon, A.M., Harvard 1726, was 
paid £12, 15s. for keeping school in 1727. On July 4, 1729, 
the selectmen appointed Abigail Parker "Single woman", 
to keep school "one month or two this year". She taught 
two months that summer, apparently In the West, and was 
paid £3, 4s. by the hands of Henry Pratt, who in December 
was chosen "to treat with M' Robert pepper for to Keep a 
School amongst us" for "one Month or two this winter". 
Miss Parker taught in Needham terms of two months in 
the summers of 1730 and 1733, and is the first female teacher 
of whom we have any record. In those days the teacher 
rarely remained more than four weeks in the same part of 
the town, for its territory was too large for one school, and 
the children of the West had to share with those of the East. 
In the spring of 1729/30 John Goodenow receipted for 
seventeen shillings allowed the families west of Natick 
Brook for a school, and that section subsequently had its 
share of the appropriation. 

In the summer of 1730 Miss Jemima Littlefield kept 
school in Needham for two months, and for thirty years 
she continued our "School Dame", with the occasional 
omission of a summer. It is possible that she taught every 
summer, and that the selectmen's records are incomplete. 
There seems to be a more connected story of the schools in 
the West, where she often taught, than of those in the 
East. Apparently her last term was in 1760. She was a 
daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia Littlefield of Newton 
Lower Falls, and was born August 19, 1697, and died in 

1773. 
The only other woman who taught in Needham for many 



332 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

years, when Massachusetts was a Province, was Mrs. 
Hannah Coller, who was the widow of Mr. Horton when 
she married Joseph Coller on November lo, 1732, and in 
1762, or earlier, she was again a widow. She taught in all 
of the districts, with the possible exception of the West 
End, and was often the mistress of the Great Plain school. 
Her first term, the place not stated, was In the summer of 
1745, and her last in that of 1773, when she taught the Brick 
school twelve weeks. She died In 1800 or 1801. 

In 1729 twelve shillings were paid to William Ockinton, 
East, for the use of his house for a school. In the summer of 
1730 Captain Cook, John Smith, Robert Fuller, Josiah Kings- 
bery and Andrew Dewing were chosen to answer the peti- 
tion for a school which the Westerly inhabitants had pre- 
sented to the General Court, and this petition may have 
led to an appropriation of £20 made at this time, with 
the further result that in September the selectmen "agreed 
for to Hier a Gramer Schoole Mafter" for two months. 
Captain Cook and Henry Pratt, who had a good deal to 
do with the schools, were to "agree" with a master, and to 
provide a place for his "Entertainment". Robert Cook, 
the younger, was engaged for that winter, the next year 
for five months, and at intervals to 175 1. 

In May, 173 1, John Smith and Henry Pratt were "to 
Treat with and agree with a Schoole Dame or Miftris to 
Keep a School at the Schoole Houfe for the space of Three 
months next Coming in"; evidently a departure in the 
direction of more education. A petition of the "Most 
Easterly or South Easterly Inhabitants", dated January 17, 
173 1/2, was granted on March i, and the town approved 
the location which the petitioners, Joseph Boyden, who 
lived on the Blackman place, and twenty-nine others had 
obtained for a school-house, — "a Corner of Land Belonging 
to Samuel Bacon at the Crofs ways Near the Houfe of 
Caleb Smith". Early in 1733 the town treasurer paid 
twelve shillings for the use of a house to keep school in. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 333 

There were years when the town neglected to maintain a 
school as required by law, and was presented at the Court 
of Quarter Sessions and fined £1, 17s. Dea. Timothy Kings- 
bery paid the fines, and in 1734 and again in 1736 he was 
reimbursed by the town. 

The Dedham Historical Register for 1903 contains an 
exhaustive account of the schools and teachers in Needham 
to 1775, with the exception of some of the teachers for the 
years 1771-5, and only a few of the more conspicuous 
teachers from 173 1 to the present time will be mentioned 
in this history, as there have been several hundred employed 
by the town. Mr. Clarke also contributed to the same 
publication in 1900 and 1901 articles giving particulars as 
to the schools and teachers from the spring of 1841 to that 
of 1843, and from 1851 to 1859. 

In the spring of 1741, and subsequently, there was a 
school in the house of Jeremiah Fisher, on Charles River 
Street. The house was later known as the "Liddy Fisher 
House". In February, 1747/8, the selectmen gave an order 
of £6 to Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery and to Josiah Newell, Jr., 
"for their Going to Bofton upon the account of the Town 
Being profeuted for not Keeping a Schoole". At the March 
meeting in 1752 the town considered the question of build- 
ing school-houses, but it went over to the May meeting, 
and there was no result. In 1765 the town dismissed a 
petition of Samuel Daniell and others in reference to a 
school-house, and also refused to allow the building located 
by a vote of the town near the house of Joseph Mudge to be 
sold. This school-house that certain men wished to sell 
was probably the one in what is now Wellesley Hills, and 
which dated from 1732. There were school-houses on the 
Great Plain and in the south part of the town in 1763, and 
in what is now the village of Wellesley in 1765. The school 
for the Centre, as it was later known, was kept in 1766 at 
the Capt. Robert Fuller house, still standing, but in 1769 
there was a brick school-house. In 1768 and 1772 there was 



334 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

a school in Eliphalet Kingsbery's house, which probably 
was on Oakland Street, and in the latter year there was one 
for four weeks at Samuel Daggett's. 

Of the teachers in the Provincial period the following 
should perhaps be mentioned: Francis Very began a two 
months' term in December, 1733, and taught in Needham, 
from time to time, till 1747. On December 3, 1735, he was 
engaged to teach four weeks in the West, "Omitting Satter- 
day ", for £4, and on the i8th was secured for another four 
weeks. He taught in a school-house, perhaps the one on 
Linden Street, or possibly the first four weeks at the West 
End, and late in January he contracted for a third term of 
four weeks, this time in the East if the "Neighbour Hood" 
provided a proper house for him to teach in, otherwise he 
was to continue in the West. Peter Vialas of Hopkinton 
taught in Needham for eighteen years, until his death, which 
occurred in our town April 21, 1756. He is referred to in 
the records as "our School Mafter", and presumably was 
successful, as he usually received the highest wages then 
paid by the town. Among the numerous undergraduates 
from Harvard College, most of them minors, who taught 
winter terms in Needham were: — Jonathan Townsend, Jr., 
A.M., Harvard 1741, afterward the minister at Medfield, 
and Jonas Clark, A.M., Harvard 1752, later the noted min- 
ister at Lexington during the Revolution. Mr. Clark was 
here in 1 750/1, and there were others who became ministers. 
The Rev. Mr. Townsend's younger son, Lieut. Samuel, 
kept school in 1757-63, and Capt. John Jones taught here. 
He was later a well-known magistrate, surveyor, colonel of 
militia, and the owner of the fine estate, just across the river 
in Dover, now the property of the Cheney family. Of the 
young men belonging to the town who were esteemed com- 
petent to keep school were several Fullers and Kingsberys, 
and also Jonathan Newell, A.M., who graduated at Harvard 
in 1770, and was the minister at Stow from October 11, 1774, 
to his death, October 4, 1830, at the age of eighty-one years. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 335 

He was a son of Joslah Newell, Jr. Practically all of the 
women teachers belonged in town. 

Beginning in 1763 Robert Fuller taught in Needham most 
of the winters until 1795, usually at the Brick school-house 
near his home, but several seasons at the Great Plain, and 
more than one term at the Lower Falls. In February and 
March, 1774, he had the South school. Mr, Fuller was prom- 
inent in town, as were other members of his family. When 
he was master of the winter school at the Great Plain in 
1784/5 the school was at the house of Aaron Smith, Jr. 
("Hawk Aaron"), on South Street. The summer school 
had been at the same house in 1780, when Mr. Smith's 
aunt. Widow Martha Smith, a most estimable woman, 
lived there. At times it had been at other houses on South 
Street; as early as 1774 at Elisha Mills's, and in 1784 at 
Solomon Fuller's. These facts rather corroborate the 
tradition that a school-house once stood on the east corner 
of Great Plain Avenue and Webster Street (not the north 
corner), and that it was burned about 1780. Why the school- 
house was not used In 1774 does not appear. 

Joseph and John Haven of Dedham, both undergraduates 
of Harvard, were teachers in Needham shortly before the 
Revolution. Joseph was subsequently for many years the 
minister at Rochester, N. H., then a wilderness, where he 
did much missionary work, and was interested in the wel- 
fare of the Indians. John became a surgeon, and was lost 
at sea. Another teacher at this period was Zedeklah Sanger, 
Harvard 1771, an eminent divine in later life. Of the male 
teachers resident In Needham, who had schools for a series 
of years, were: — Isaac Shepard, schoolmaster from 1770 to 
1792, Jonathan KIngsbery, Jr., afterward a colonel, who 
occasionally had a school from 1772 to 1796, Joseph KIngs- 
bery, Jr., from 1773 to 1795, and Joseph Mudge, Jr., from 
1773 to 1793. 

Of the women Mrs. Esther Newell, Great Plain school- 
mistress from 1773 to 1784, is worthy of mention. 



336 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Until modern times women rarely, if ever, taught a 
winter term in Needham, and men were not employed in 
the summer. Readers of this history may remember what the 
district schools were in the winter, when there were pupils 
nearly twenty-one years old, stalwart fellows who worked 
out-of-doors all of the year, and yet many of them painfully 
backward as scholars, and often mutinous. The writer 
has seen his teacher, an undergraduate of Harvard Univer- 
sity, obliged to strike many vigorous blows with a heavy 
ruler before it was an accepted fact that an attempted 
rebellion was a failure, and that the master was competent 
to keep that school, and that the well-disposed pupils were 
to have a chance to avail themselves of their rather limited 
opportunities. This experience with a district school in the 
winter, however, was not in Needham, but in Worcester 
County. 

In 1780 the First Parish twice considered building a 
school-house "for the Use of Sd Parish", but without re- 
sult, and according to the Parish records Moses Mann gave 
£40. "for the School" in 1793. 

On March 15, 1785, on petition of Edward Jackson and 
others, the town chose a committee consisting of Michael 
Metcalf, Josiah Newell, Jr., Amos Fuller, Joseph Mudge, Jr., 
Moses Fisk, Edward Jackson and Ensign Eliakim Cook. 
Neither the petition nor the report is recorded, but presum- 
ably this committee divided the town into school districts, 
and their report was adopted on May 11, the vote being 
on "the Report of y^ Committee that was Chofen to Devide 
the Town into Diftricts or wards for y^ better Accomodating 
of Schools". In March, 1787, Edward Jackson, Nathaniel 
Fisher and John Slack were to make "Some Alteration in 
the School Diftricts", and in 1789, 1790, 1791 and 1793 
similar committees were chosen, and from time to time in 
later years. On March 8, 1790, the town chose a committee 
of three in each district "to provide a teacher or teachers 
for each School and to Procure wood". This was the be- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 337 

ginning In Needham of the district, or prudential, committees, 
which were chosen annually by the town, with the exception 
of 1802, until March 6, 1843, when it was voted to leave to 
each district the choice of its prudential school committee. 
This action was commended by the "Superintending School 
Committee" in their report for 1842/3. These district 
committees were often inefficient, and were wisely abolished 
in 1854. 

In 1790 the town voted to allow "the Diftrict on great 
plain" to spend the balance of their appropriation for 1789 
in finishing their school-house. The writer is inclined to 
think that there may not have been any school-house in 
that locality for nearly, or quite, ten years after the old 
building was burned. 

In the winter of 1791/2 Isaac Shepard taught twelve 
weeks "at the New School House in Needham South Dif- 
trict", and for more than ten years he was the teacher of 
this school. He furnished the wood for the fireplace, usu- 
ally at nine shillings per cord. Mr. Shepard had the Great 
Plain school several winters before the War. 

In 1790 the town paid one shilling per foot for wood 
delivered at the Brick school-house, and on July 26 the first 
order for repairing a school-house was granted by the select- 
men, and was for ten shillings in favor of Lieut. John Tolman 
on account of the Brick school-house. Two years later 
Jonathan Kingsbery, Jr., was paid 2s., 2d., for setting glass 
in the Brick school-house. 

Needham may pride itself on the long school terms it 
gave its children, not only in the first fifty years of the 
nineteenth century, when forty weeks was not unusual, 
and thirty-six rather below the average of the districts, but 
prior to 1800, for then many of the terms were for sixteen 
weeks both winter and summer, and for years twelve weeks 
had been the rule, with occasional exceptions. At that 
period the school year was much shorter in most localities, 
and as late as 1869 many of the Massachusetts towns main- 



338 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

tained schools for only twenty-four weeks each year. In 
November, 1793, Reuben Estey had fifteen shillings for 
the use of a room for a school in 1791. In the winter begin- 
ning in 1791 a school was "Kept at the Houfe where Joseph 
Stedman Lived", presumably the old Stedman house on the 
east side of Washington Street, near where Dr. Bancroft 
lives. The "House Improved by Joseph Stedman" con- 
tinued a seat of learning for some years, as the town hired 
a room in it for the school. In 1786 there was a school- 
house on what is now Church Street, but apparently in 1791 
it was not available. At this period a school was kept at 
the house of John Willson, who lived on the Hanks place 
near Newell's Bridge. In 1791 the Upper Falls school was 
still at Colonel Alden's dwelling, and as late as 1795 the Great 
Plain school was at the house of Aaron Smith, Jr., on South 
Street. In 1796 there was a school at Enoch Parker's, on 
Blossom Street, and in 1797 one at Enoch Davenport's. 
In the winter of 1793/4 "there was a school at the Upper 
Falls for six weeks kept by Amasa Alden at the house of 
William Alden, Jr. In the summer of 1792 Joseph Daniell 
furnished a "Room for a School" at his house at the Lower 
Falls for eighteen shillings for the term, and the school was 
there in the winters of 1793/4, '95/6. Between 1793 and 1796 
this Lower Falls school was sometimes at the house of Elijah 
Morse, who was paid $3 for the use of a room in the summer 
of 179s, and also at Lieut. Zibeon Hooker's and at Ephraim 
Jackson's. Lieutenant Hooker received $2 for the use of his 
room. There is an S. A. R. marker on his grave in Saint 
Mary's Churchyard. 

The following is the record of a School District meeting 
in 1791: — 

Inhabitants of the weft School Clafs In Needham on 
December 27*'* 1791 Duly notifyed and meet firft made 
choice of Mofes Fifk moderator Second. Voted to Build a 
Brick School houfe In the Senter on the Road from Theo- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 339 

dore Broads Brook to Natick Line Near where Ifaac Coolidge 
now Lives and Voted to Raife Forty Five Pounds Voted 
that mr Thomas Broad mr William Farris and Mofes 
Fifk be a committee to provide meterials for the Same 
Gentlemen Selecmen of the Town of Needham Pleafe To 
Put an article In your warrant for your Next Meeting To 
See if the Town will Vote that forty five Pounds Shall Be 
alTest upon and Raifed By the weft End School Deftrict 
For the Ufe of Building them a School houfe. 

Mofes Fifk (From the original). 

In May, 1792, the town authorized this assessment of 
£45, and in March, 1795, it was increased by £20, which 
was duly assessed and paid. Jonathan Bacon had then 
succeeded Mr. Broad on the committee. 

At the meeting in March, 1795, £45 were assessed upon 
the South district for a school-house, which Capt. Ebenezer 
Fisher, Captain Newell and Deacon Shepard were to build. 
In 1795 the town also expended £75 for a school-house in 
the Lower Falls district, under the direction of Joseph 
Daniell, Enoch Fisk and Benjamin Slack. On September 
14, 1795, there was held the first of a series of town meet- 
ings devoted to school matters, and progressive action was 
taken. The town however dismissed an article to build 
school-houses for the whole town, and assess proportionately 
each district, the money to be spent within the limits of 
the district where it was raised This proposition was a 
sort of compromise between the old and the new. Amos 
Fuller, Capt. Josiah Newell, Capt. Ephraim Bullard, William 
Farris, Enoch Fisk, Colonel Alden and Colonel Kingsbery 
were chosen "to see what they can purchase each School- 
house in the Town for". On December 7, after three ad- 
journed town meetings, the committee reported that the 
Proprietors would sell their school-houses as follows : " Center 
Brick School" house £52, "great plain" "Estamate" £60, 
South £30, "west Meeting house" £36, "west End Dif- 



340 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

trict" £65. The report was accepted, together with an- 
other of the same committee changing the lines of the 
school-districts, which matter they had also been authorized 
to consider. There were five school-houses, and although 
the town then extended to Lake Cochituate, it was proposed 
to escape building two new ones by reducing the districts 
to five. There was no school-house, or practically none, in 
the Upper Falls district, but the selectmen had already 
ordered £75 paid to the building committee in the South 
district. Evidently there was no new school-house at the 
Lower Falls in December, 1795, when the town voted to 
merge the Lower and Upper Falls districts into the Center 
Brick and the West Meeting-house districts. This plan 
made it as inconvenient as possible for a large proportion of 
the children; for example, it extended the Great Plain dis- 
trict westward to the present Wellesley line, although 
many families had for years been in the Centre (Brick) 
district, and were nearer to its school-house. The West 
End district was to extend westerly of "Broad and Stevens 
Brook (so Called) including Ephraim Stevens Ju''". At 
the December meeting £350, a large sum, had been voted to 
repair the school-houses, and Amos Fuller, Ensign Nathan 
Dewing, Capt. Ephraim Bullard, Moses Fisk and Enoch 
Fisk appointed to "Build School house where they are 
needed". At the annual meeting in 1796 the vote estab- 
lishing the new districts was reconsidered, and a different 
committee on districts was appointed, whose report was 
accepted in May, when the committee on building school- 
houses was also dismissed, and that matter referred to the 
district committee. A committee of twenty-one, three from 
each district, was also chosen to meet the proprietors of 
the school-houses, "and to Procure a Quitclaim". In De- 
cember, 1796, the selectmen drew thirty orders in favor of 
the proprietors of the new Great Plain school-house to re- 
imburse them for what they had expended, eight orders on 
account of the house near the Lower Falls, eighteen for the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 341 

proprietors in the South, twenty-three for those in the West 
Meeting-house district, and seventeen to residents in the 
Brick School district, most of whom represented their 
predecessors. Presumably the building in the latter dis- 
trict was the same erected in 1769 on land given by Michael 
Metcalf, whose nephew, Ensign Michael Harris, received in 

1796 $17.45 for what his uncle did "to y® aforesaid house"; 
probably in addition to the gift of the land. Mr. Metcalf 
was an old bachelor with a remarkable talent for mathe- 
matics, using the kitchen floors of his acquaintances to 
illustrate his skill as a "Lightning Calculator". 

In 1796 $216.66 were paid to William Farris, Moses Fisk 
and Jonathan Bacon, Jr., "which the Inhabitants of said 
Town voted to give the Proprietors of the west end school 
Diftrict (so called) in said Town, for the school House by 
them built for said Proprietors". Early in 1797 $200 addi- 
tional were voted for building and repairing school-houses. 
Colonel Kingsbery was the only one of the appraisers of the 
school-houses in 1796 that gave three full days to that duty, 
and he received three dollars. At the March meeting in 

1797 the town voted "to build & set up a school House on 
Land of William Alden Jun?", but having prepared the 
frame the town delayed ten years, while for a long time the 
frame lay upon the ground. It was finally set up, and in 
1807 a vote was passed to "cover" it "so as to be conven- 
ient for a summer school", which for many years was the 
only school that it was customary to keep in that district. 
This building stood on land owned by the late George Wright, 
and was on the northerly side of Webster Street. At the 
May meeting in 1798 the town had refused to allow the 
inhabitants from Colonel Alden's to "Cooks Bridge", includ- 
ing Lieut. Lemuel Mills, to pay school money to Newton, or 
to have "liberty to join Newton". At the same meeting 
in 1798 committees had been chosen to select a site for a 
school-house, and to build one, and in 1801 the building 
committee had been increased to five, all without immediate 



342 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

results, as already stated. Colonel Alden boarded the work- 
men while they were "setting up a frame near his house for 
a School house", and supplied them with rum, sugar, etc. 
Dea. Thomas Eustis, who lived near Wellesley Square, made 
the window frames, sashes and "glasing" for this school- 
house. 

The Brick school-house was extensively repaired in 1799; 
the material, bought of Jonathan KIngsbery, Jr., alone 
cost about $130. 

During the early years of the last century the school 
children appear to have increased their efforts to furnish 
occupation to Jeremiah Daniell, Nathaniel Morrill, Jared 
West, Abel Weld and others who set glass. For genera- 
tions the renewal of the glass in the school-house windows 
was a considerable expense to the town, and subsequent to 
1840 the superintending school committee commented, from 
time to time, on the destructive disposition of the children. 

A few items will illustrate the purchases of school furni- 
ture in 1801, and for many years subsequent: — a "Write- 
ing or Book Defk" $4.25, one "pair of fire Dogs". These 
articles were for the South school-house, which was repaired 
and improved in 1801 and 1802, and are typical of the equip- 
ment bought for other schools. A pair of andirons cost the 
town $2 in 1812. By 1815 stoves had been introduced into 
most of the school-houses, if not all of them. The stove for 
the Great Plain cost $15, and that for the Brick, with the 
funnel, $29.50. In 18 14 the town voted "to furnish a Stove 
for the Plain school district and others if wanted", and the 
school committees were to apply to the selectmen "for repairs 
on the school-houses and for purchasing Stoves &c: this 
year". The box-stoves, which were used in the school-houses 
for half a century, and which many persons well remember, 
cost from $8 to $15. The benches for the children were 
made by the local carpenters. 

After a delay of six years, and much discussion, the town 
in May, 1809, appointed Nathaniel Ware, Joseph Newell, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 343 

Daniel Ware, Esq., Moses Garfield and Dea. Asa Kings- 
bury to build a school-house in the West district, as the 
district formerly the West Meeting-house district was 
then designated. In September Nathaniel Ware and Lieu- 
tenants Garfield and Gay were "to procure a spot to set 
the new school house on", and to dispose of the old one 
"when it is no longer wanted", which was not to be for 
some time. The new school-house was south of Blossom 
Street, and not far from where is now the Fiske Dormitory. 
The town found that considerable land went with the old 
one, which was on Church Street, but, after two committees 
had reported on the matter, it was decided in 181 1 to sell. 
The land for the new school-house was purchased of Aaron 
Smith for $30, and the building cost upward of $500. The 
old school-house of 181 1 appears to have stood about where 
the barn is in the rear of the tavern so long the home of the 
Flagg family. There was a question as to the town's title, 
but after investigation by a committee it was decided that 
the land could be sold, and the town treasurer was author- 
ized to execute a deed of it, when a sale was made. At 
the April meeting, 18 17, it was voted to sell the old school- 
house "near M^ Flaggs" at auction at the May meeting, 
the moderator, or some one he should appoint, to act as 
auctioneer. Josiah Ware bought this old West school- 
house for $30.50 at the auction. 

The school money was annually apportioned, among the 
districts, by the assessors, according to the taxes raised in 
each, and in 1805 the "Great plain" had $155.36, the South 
$98.32, the West $122.90, the "Brick School" $109.69, the 
"Lower falls" $94.79, and the "Upper falls" $18.18. In 
the succeeding years the West and Lower Falls districts 
grew in taxable property until they exceeded the Great 
Plain district, and by 1821 the South district had distanced 
the Brick. In the early thirties the North district grew 
rapidly in wealth and displaced the West, which had long 
led, and the Brick school, or Centre, district took the 



344 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

third place in the list. In 1836 $940 were divided among 
the districts as follows: North $235.92, West $216.92, 
Centre $141.70, Great Plain $133.40, South $111.17, East 
$100.89. 

On page 231 of Vol. V. is recorded the consent of the Rev. 
Mr. Palmer and twenty-six others to have a new school- 
house near the East Meeting-house instead of "near neck 
Bridge", which latter was understood to be the location 
selected when the town at its last April meeting voted, on 
a report of the committee on altering the school districts, 
"that a school-house be erected for the Brick school district 
in the most central convenient place". In 18 15 the Brick 
school-house was removed to the Centre from opposite the 
modern Convalescent Home on Forest Street, where there 
had been a school-house since 1769. The new house was 
rebuilt from the old bricks, and was not enlarged, which 
policy resulted in a new house within twenty-five years. 
On May i, 1815, Benjamin Slack, Esq., Major Mcintosh, 
Aaron Smith, Capt. Artemas Newell and Jeremiah Kings- 
bury were a committee "for the purpose of moving one 
of the school-houses in the Brick School district or to 
build a new school-house so as to accomodate said dis- 
trict". The Major rebuilt it that autumn by contract for 

$393- 

In the early winter of 18 16/7 Stephen Tyng gave up the 

South school after a brief experience, and Miss Mary Newell, 
who had taught there several summers, took the school and 
kept it for ten weeks, receiving $4.50 per week, besides 
board, which was a master's pay. She was the first woman 
to teach a winter school in Needham, with the possible 
exception of some early teachers. 

On March 3, 18 17, the town voted to "Expend the Inter- 
est annually of the Money Due to the Town for wood sold 
on the School lot in Dover, in additeon to what is granted 
by said Town for that purpose". As some of these notes 
given for wood remained unpaid for many years, and the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 345 

rates of interest were high, the schools derived substantial 
sums for a long time from this source.^ 

In 1 8 17 the town bought planks for benches, and also 
shingles in Boston, which George Fisher carted to Needham. 
There were 8000 shingles, for which Jabez Ellis was paid 
$28, and Spencer Fuller $25 for laying them at the South 
school. At the annual meeting in 1818 a special committee 
of six, one from each school district, was chosen to repair 
the school-houses, and in October, 1825, Artemas Newell, 
Esq., Colonel Rice, Capt. George Smith, Elisha Lyon, Esq., 
and Major M'^Intosh were chosen to consider the question 
of school accommodations, but their report appears to have 
resulted only in a committee to repair in 1827. 

In 1822, and occasionally for some years, the Brick school 
district, later the Centre district, was designated as the 
"Middle District". 

As early as 1827 the town bought many school-books, 
and the committee made due returns to the assessors, who 
added to the tax bill of the father, or guardian, the cost of 
the books which he had failed to provide. The town school 
report of 1839 calls attention to the law as to books, and 
that of April, 1842, reminds "Parents, Masters and Guar- 
dians" that they must "furnish School Books for their Chil- 
dren". The report of 1839 commented upon the music 
introduced into two of the schools, and urged that it should 
be taught in all of them. In this report the committee in- 
sisted that the text-books must be uniform, or music, black- 
boards, and other recent innovations, would be of but little 
avail. Within three years the recommendations of the com- 
mittee as to music were adopted in all of the districts, and 
were a great success when there was a musical teacher like 

1 It does not appear that any wood was sold on the School Land prior to 1776, 
or that the proceeds were devoted to the schools until 18 17, but from that year to 
the close of the Civil War the schools received not less than $90 each year, which 
was increased to $100 in 1859. Successive sales of wood created these funds. It 
is possible that from 1817 to 183 1 there were years when the interest on notes did 
not equal $90. 



346 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Solomon Flagg. There were several public-spirited citizens 
who volunteered to instruct the children In music when the 
teacher was unable to do so, and valuable service was ren- 
dered In this way. 

In 1882 the town employed Henry Joshua Whittemore as 
Instructor, or supervisor, of music in all of the schools, and 
for several years he was assisted by his daughter, Miss Mary 
Estelle Whittemore. Mr. Whittemore retired in 1895 from 
the service of the town. 

In April, 1829, following the report of a committee, of 
which General Rice was chairman, the town established the 
Upper Falls School district; there had been only a summer 
school in that locality.^ 

Four dollars were added to the school money for the Brick 
school district In order to make up for the almshouse prop- 
erty, which was withdrawn from the tax list. At this 
period there was a tiresome controversy as to the Great 
Plain school-house, which some persons had hauled to near 
Blind Lane (Green Street), and which others later replaced 
on its former site near Webster Street. 

In May, 183 1, a committee reported on the situation of 
the several school districts", principally as to the location 
of the school-houses, and the town voted to "Equalize 
the school houses" "that the best School house should be 
Apprised, and that all other School houses should be made 
Equil by the town & that Each district shall receive his 
proportion of money as apprised to expend as they please 
In building & repairing their school houses". The appraisers 
were Aaron Smith, Esq., Moses Garfield, Elisha Lyon, 
Esq., Thomas Kingsbury, Capt. Reuben Ware and Rufus 
Mills, Esq.,^ and their report was accepted. On June 9 
a rate of $400 was voted to "Equalize", but It was all re- 
considered at an adjourned meeting, and In August a com- 

^ There was a small amount spent on this school-house in 1829, when William 
Eaton, Jr., did some carpenter work, and Samuel Scott, the mason, was employed. 

2 Town Clerk Kingsbury recognized fully the right of the Justices of the Peace 
to the title of "Esq.", although he usually omitted military titles. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 347 

mittee of six were "to build, repair, & remove the school 
houses In the town agreeable to the report of the Committee 
at May Meeting". 

Late In December, 183 1, the Great Plain school-house was 
repaired by Joseph Colburn, and It cost about $150. 

In 1833 a committee was chosen to sell the old school- 
house in the South district, and Charles Rice bought it a 
year or two later for $36. The West school-house was too 
small, and In April, 1833, the town, acting on the report 
of a committee, voted to make alterations In It, which work 
was done by the well-remembered Richard Boynton, whose 
bill, $200, was not paid till early In 1835. In 1835 the in- 
sufficiency of the Centre school-house became serious, and 
It was decided to enlarge the front ten feet, making a school- 
room of twenty-three square feet, exclusive of the entry. 
The old bricks were used, but eight thousand new ones 
were also required. The land for this school-house was 
purchased late In 1835 from the First Parish for $50 and the 
adjoining lot on which the old house had stood. 

Lemuel Lyon, 2d, owned the building In which the school 
was kept in the winter of 1835/6. William Eaton, Jr., 
who was the principal builder in East Needham for many 
years, did the carpenter work, and Underwood and Train, 
from out of town, were the masons; the latter boarded with 
Luther Morse. This school-house, built in part of old 
material, cost not far from $800, although two years before 
the town had paid Paul Dewing less than $400 for building 
the South school-house. In April, 1837, Spencer Fuller, 
William Eaton, Jr., and Abijah Greenwood were chosen 
to build a new school-house for the Great Plain district, and 
$500 were appropriated for the purpose. The old school- 
house was sold at auction the following year, and Is said 
to form a part of the house until recently occupied by 
Benjamin L. Barr. 

The later thirties witnessed the beginning of a Renais- 
sance, or "Great Awakening", as to education, and by 1845 



348 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

there were new school-houses In nearly all of the districts, 
and they compared favorably with those in the adjoining 
towns, for they had blinds, some of them were painted, and 
they were equipped with stoves, and the sills were banked 
for the winter. The more efficient members of the school 
committee made upward of twenty visits a year to the town 
schools, for which they were paid sixty cents per visit, and 
there was a marked improvement In the qualifications of the 
teachers, and In the methods of instruction. The opening 
of the next decade brought maps and globes into the schools, 
and several district school libraries were established, as the 
result of encouragement received from the Commonwealth. 

The prudential school committees continued to engage 
the teachers and to provide fuel and other supplies for the 
school buildings. The meetings In the different districts 
to choose the prudential committee were called and warned 
by the outgoing committee at least seven days before the 
time set, and were usually, perhaps Invariably, held In the 
evening. In 185 1 each district was directed to choose but 
one man to be prudential school committee, and three years 
later the old district system was abolished, although for 
some years subsequent a man was chosen in each district 
to provide wood and to take care of the school-house. 

In 1839 the town had directed the selectmen to put 
blinds on four of the school-houses, also "the lower Falls 
and Upper Fall school-houses to furnish something Inside to 
keep the sun out". The school committee In the spring of 
1 841 described these two school-houses as unfit for the time, 
and that year General Rice, Dexter Ware, William Eaton, 
Spencer Fuller and Abijah Greenwood were chosen a com- 
mittee to build a new school-house In the North district, and 
$600 were appropriated. The town directed this committee 
to call on Henry Mann, Esq., for a plan, and William Eaton 
was the builder. Mr. Eaton presumably had completed 
the house by October, 1842, when $864 were paid him. In 
1844 the town decided to buy all of the land between the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 349 

roads in order to extend the grounds of the North school, 
and a portion, if not the whole, of the large triangle which 
now forms the school-house lot was then obtained from Amos 
Allen for a moderate sum. The town borrowed the money to 
pay for this land. Later a committee was appointed to stake 
out a school-house lot, and General Rice was authorized 
to sell a part for not less than what the town paid for the 
whole. In 1844 the local committee was authorized by the 
town to procure the blinds for this new school-house. The 
successive school-houses in the North district have been 
on, or near, the same site to 191 1, which cannot be said of 
the school-houses in any other old district in Needham or 
Wellesley. The new school-house in the Upper Falls dis- 
trict was built by Richard Boynton in 1842 at a cost of $474, 
and the town authorized its treasurer to borrow the money. 
The building committee, William Eaton, Thomas Kings- 
bury, Elisha Lyon, Otis Sawyer, Spencer Fuller, William 
Flagg and John S. Bird located the new house on the south 
corner of what is now Central Avenue and Webster Street, 
where it still remains, but has long been a dwelling. 

In 1844 the town bought a piece of land of William Flagg 
for $60, and chose Capt. Reuben Ware, William Eaton, 
Deacon Lyon, Mr. Kimball, Spencer Fuller, William Flagg 
and John Mansfield a committee with authority to select a 
site for a new school-house for the West district, and to sell 
the old house at auction for not less than $125. The town 
borrowed temporarily $750 to build this school-house, but 
it cost $960, besides $124.50 for eighty-three chairs, and 
$13 for two tables. Dea. Hezekiah Fuller was the builder. 

The report of the school committee in the spring of 1846 
stated that all of the teachers were good, and that the em- 
ployment of women teachers for the winter terms in three 
districts, viz.. East, Centre and Great Plain, had proved a 
"profitable experiment". The East school had then been 
taught for two winters by a female, and persuasion was 
largely taking the place of the rod in all the Needham schools. 



3 so THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The Centre school was at that time large, and the building 
quite inadequate. For some years the parents had shown 
increasing interest in the schools, and for five years, or more, 
the examinations had been well attended by them. 

The report for 1843/4 had referred to the great advantage 
in having two rooms in the school-house, and two schools 
in winter, in both the North and West districts. In the 
winter of 1837/8 Martha B. Morse taught "the small school 
in the west district" fifteen weeks. 

In 1845 William Eaton made repairs on the South school- 
house to the amount of $400, and in 1849 the town paid 
Robinson & Roberts nearly $300 for painting four school- 
houses, and one or more buildings at the town farm. The 
cost of the lead and oil, provided by the town, brought the 
expense of painting to nearly $500, and it was the first large 
expenditure of this kind that the town had had. In the 
latter year a good sized wooden school-house was built for 
the Centre district, and the total cost was $1700 including 
furnishing. It was a two-story building, and was in use till 
burned in 1878. The site was a few rods southwest of the 
old Brick school-house, and at a less elevation from the road. 
The site had been selected in 1845 by a committee, and was 
purchased of George Revere for $30; the latter had acquired 
this land from the First Parish. The building committee 
for this school-house, as finally selected, consisted of Timothy 
N. Smith, Mr. Kimball, Thomas Kingsbury, Lemuel Kings- 
bury, William Pierce, Daniel Ware and Capt. Reuben Ware. 
Members of these special committees were paid for their 
services, as were the selectmen and other town officers. 
Hezekiah Fuller was the contractor for the Centre school- 
house, and Jonathan Fuller, Jr., did the mason work. 

In 1855, after some years of consideration, the town built 
school-houses for the Great Plain and for Grantville at a 
total cost of about $5400. Timothy N. Smith constructed 
that on the Great Plain, and Gardner & Fuller the one in 
Grantville. The Grantville school dates from 1854 when 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 351 

Aliss Caroline L. Kingsbury taught twenty-nine children, 
forming a primary school. The house erected by Mr. Smith 
replaced an entirely inadequate building, which after two 
removals is now a dwelling-house on the Hicks estate. This 
school-house, and at least one before it, had stood on the 
north corner of Great Plain Avenue and Webster Street, but 
the new one was placed some distance further east on Great 
Plain Avenue. 

The school-house for the Northwest district, Unionville, 
was secured in 1858 after seven years of defeat, and was 
sadly needed, as in the winter of 1857/8 thirty-seven 
children attended school in a small room totally unfit for 
school purposes. This school in the Northwest had been 
established in the summer of 1854 with twenty-six pupils, 
and Miss Hannah J. Ware was its first teacher. The building 
committee for the school-house in the Northwest consisted 
of George Spring, Silas G. Williams, William Flagg, Abijah 
Greenwood, Lauren Kingsbury and Franklin Stevens, and 
the same committee also directed in 1858 the construction 
of the North school-house, expending in all about $4000. 
The houses built in 1855 were under the supervision of a 
committee of nine, not identical with the original committee 
to which had been referred early in 1854 the entire question 
of new school-houses, including the location of them. 

In 1857 the town directed the selectmen to put up on the 
school-houses the laws of the Commonwealth "in relation 
to killing birds, stealing fruit, and depredations on gardens". 

In i860 the school committee each devoted annually about 
fifteen days to the schools, and were paid Si. 50 per day. 

On August 28, 1870, the school committee issued a cir- 
cular establishing rules intended to check unnecessary ab- 
sence and tardiness. This circular would not be popular at 
the present time (191 1), as it refers to "the poorer classes", 
and informs them that they had better avail themselves of the 
schools, which are maintained at the expense of others and 
paid for "by those who have the least need of such schools". 



352 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

At the annual town meeting in 1853 the superintending 
school committee and Solomon Flagg, Lewis Sumner, 
Charles C. Greenwood, Josiah H. Carter, George K. Daniell 
and Moses Winch were chosen to consider the advisability 
of establishing one or more high schools, and to report on 
the school system of the town as a whole. The committee 
reported to the town in April, and the report was ordered 
to be printed, and a copy supplied to "every legal voter". 
In November the report was adopted, and the Rev. Mr. 
Kimball, the Rev. Mr. Barrows, Nathan Longfellow, E. K. 
Whitaker, Dr. Noyes, Lewis Sumner, Jonathan Fuller, 
J. H. Carter and Capt. Reuben Ware were to introduce the 
changes recommended by the former committee, but with 
no authority to establish a high school. 

On April 14, 1864, a committee, consisting of B. G. Kim- 
ball and C. C. Greenwood for the Centre, Lauren Kingsbury 
and Jonathan Battles for the Great Plain, Henry Wood and 
Charles Blaisdell for Wellesley, the Rev. E. S. Atwood and 
M. N. Boyden for Grantville, with Marshall Newell at large, 
was chosen to consider "the establishment of a high school", 
and to report in four weeks. The result was that the com- 
mittee reported that the town was legally bound to have a 
high school, and on May 12 it was voted to have two, the 
cost not to exceed $1200 per year each, and $2500 were 
appropriated. A committee of eleven was named to locate 
these schools, and they were authorized to contract to pay 
rentals not exceeding $300 per year for each school. This 
was additional to the $1200 before referred to, and neither 
amount was expected to include furnishings. On March 6, 
1865, it was "Voted, that the town establish & maintain 
two Schools, of the grade & character, of School provided 
for, in Sec. 2^, Chap. 38 of General Statutes, one to be 
located on the West side of the town, the other on the East 
side of the town, which said Schools shall be for the benefit 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 353 

of all the inhabitants of the town, and the attendance of 
Scholars upon said Schools, shall be regulated by the School 
Committee as may be found most convenient". The select- 
men were to provide rooms for these schools, or for one of 
them, whenever notified by the school committee that there 
were a sufficient number of scholars. There was provision 
made for closing a high school if it was found to be unneces- 
sary. Both schools were opened in May. The East High 
School was first kept In the upper part of the Centre school- 
house, but in the fall removed to Village Hall, which was 
leased from Obed C. Parker for four successive years for 
the school. The first teacher was Silas Bundy Rawson, who 
had thirty-two pupils with an average attendance of twenty- 
eight. He was from Maine, and later became a minister. 
He did his best with the scholars from the ungraded schools, 
and is favorably remembered. 

The school committee from time to time to 1875 urged 
the union of the two high schools, and In 1868 a committee 
consisting of L. A. Kingsbury, the Rev. W. B. Greene, 
Emery Grover, Galen Orr, C. R. Miles, Lauren Kingsbury 
and C. B. Dana was chosen to consider building one or more 
high schools. Their report in favor of building was made 
to the annual meeting In 1869 and accepted, but another 
committee was chosen to consider details, with the ulti- 
mate result that no house Intended solely for high school 
purposes was erected at that time. 

The West High School opened In Maugus Hall, which 
was then owned by the Maugus Hall Association, who 
leased a room to the town. The town did not expend a 
large sum for furnishings, and In the autumn the school 
was established In Waban Hall, over Shattuck's grocery- 
store, Wellesley, and remained there until the fall of 1869. 
Waban Hall is a part of the store building, then owned by 
Jonathan, Granville and Augustus Fuller. In 1869 the 
school was poorly accommodated In a hall at Grantvllle 
hired of Sylvester MTntosh. In their report for the year 



354 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

ending in the spring of 1872, the school committee stated 
that prior to 1871 the West High School had alternated 
between Grantville and Wellesley from year to year, moving 
the furniture, although three quarters of the pupils lived 
in or near Grantville. 

On the completion of the new school-house at Wellesley 
the high school was located there, but returned to Grant- 
ville when the large Shaw school-house was ready for occu- 
pancy. The school-grounds at Grantville had been enlarged 
by a purchase from the Boston & Albany Railroad Company 
of some land that had belonged to the Torrey estate. David 
S. Farnham, the first teacher of the West High School, had 
thirty-four scholars enrolled, with an average attendance 
of thirty-two. 

In 1867/8 the pupils in the East High School were in- 
structed by the Rev. Jonas B. Clarke of the Oakland Hall 
School, and the town paid tuition to the amount of $598. 
Mr. Clarke gave lectures before the high school on elemen- 
tary science during other terms. 

The East High School Alumni Association was formed 
on June 24, 1880, and meets annually. Since the division 
of the town the word "East" has been omitted from Its 
name. 

In the spring of 1896 the need of an additional school- 
house was generally admitted, and a committee of sixteen 
was chosen to consider the entire question. Eleven of the 
committee, feeling that the comfort and health of the large 
number of young children was of the first importance, 
reported in favor of a new school-house on Lincoln Street, 
or in that locality, the expense to be about $7000. Five 
members of the committee reported advising a costly high 
school, and the minority report was adopted on June i, 
and immediately there arose a controversy as to the site. 
On June 22 $30,000 were appropriated, to be met by the 
Issue of bonds, and $4000 additional for the purchase of a 
lot of land somewhere on Highland Avenue, between Mr. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 355 

NIckerson's and Highlandville, according to the language 
of the vote. On October i these votes were reconsidered, 
and, as a two-thirds vote to issue bonds could not be ob- 
tained, $30,000 were appropriated to be raised by taxation 
in 1897, and $3000 were to be taken from the School Fund 
to buy land on the east corner of Highland Avenue and 
Rosemary Street. Feeling ran high, and resulted in an in- 
junction from the Supreme Judicial Court so far as the 
appropriation was concerned, which injunction might have 
also included the vote selecting the site had it not been for a 
document unexpectedly produced. This school-house was 
an issue in the town election the following spring, but the 
selectmen then chosen to do certain acts at once were un- 
able to do anything, and on March 9, 1897, John Moseley 
offered to give the town a fine lot of land, next to Saint 
Joseph's Church, as a location for the school-house, and this 
gift was accepted, and again, more formally, on April I. 
A new building committee was chosen, consisting of 
Arthur Wallace Pope, chairman, Henry S. Locke, Henry 
M. Walradt, and the school committee, Francis de M. 
Dunn, Mrs. Adeline E. Harris and John W. Titus. 

Aaron Twigg had been named for a place on this commit- 
tee, but declined to serve. The new committee discarded 
the plans prepared by the architect employed by the first 
committee, and engaged the services of Whitman & Hood, 
whose plan was finally adopted. The deed from Mr. Mose- 
ley was formally accepted on July i, and the munificent 
gift of this large lot, one of the best in town, was the most 
valuable present that the Town of Needham had received 
since its incorporation. 

The high school building was dedicated on September i, 
1898, and a number of gifts of pictures and equipment 
had then been received, including Its first flag from George 
Kuhn Clarke, who had previously presented large flags to the 
Dwight and Kimball schools. The cost of this high school 
building was about $33,000, of which $5000 were taken 



356 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

from the School Fund. F. G. Coburn & Co. were the 
builders. 

In September, 1910, there were one hundred and sixty- 
seven pupils In the High School, Including some third and 
fourth-year scholars from Dover. In September, 191 1, there 
were one hundred and thirty-eight pupils, none from Dover 
attending. 

SEVEN NEW SCHOOL-HOUSES 

On March 18, 1867, the town referred to the school com- 
mittee the proposition to "establish and locate a school at 
Highlandville". Thefirst school-house was built therein 1869, 
at a cost of about $7800, and was one of three school-houses 
erected that year. The work was done by the day, chiefly 
by Oliver Pickering and Andrew G. Gardner, who employed 
the other carpenters. This school-house was dedicated on 
April 27, 1870, at 3 o'clock, and Miss Jane G. Avery read 
a hymn which she had written for the occasion. After 
consideration by two large committees, the town voted in 
1869 to build new school-houses In Wellesley and in Grant- 
vllle, the former to be In the vicinity of Kllborn Place, and 
the latter on the site of the primary school, or In Its Imme- 
diate neighborhood. For each building $7500 were appro- 
priated, to which were added the proceeds from the sale 
of the old houses, and from land. If any was sold. A loan of 
$15,000 was authorized, and Galen Orr, Freeman Phillips 
and Charles B. Dana were chosen a building committee 
for both houses. The house at Wellesley was built by Mr. 
Phillips, and cost $10,000, Independent of gifts of money 
from H. H. Hunnewell, Henry F. Durant, Edmund M. 
Wood and William E. Baker, which were gratefully 
acknowledged by the town. This school was named the 
Hunnewell School, and the house was dedicated on April 15, 
1870, at 3 o'clock. Mr. Hunnewell presented the town with 
the land. 

The school-house at Grantville was not erected till 1874, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 357 

owing to differences of opinion as to the needs of that sec- 
tion, and cost $21,000; the contractors were Clapp Bros. 
and Thwing & Clapp Bros. This school was named for 
John W^ Shaw, who presented it with a clock, a bell and a 
globe. Further particulars as to the Grantville school-house 
will be given in connection with the one in the North 
district. 

The school at Wellesley had been a grammar school, and 
that at Grantville a mixed school, but when the new build- 
ing at Wellesley was completed the hitherto migratory high 
school, as previously stated, was kept there. 

The new East school-house, which is much nearer to the 
Upper Falls than its predecessors, also dates from 1869, and 
cost $6600. There were then seventy children between the 
ages of five and fifteen in that locality. The building com- 
mittee was the same as for the school-house at Highland- 
ville: — Simeon Grover, Jonathan Avery and Oliver Picker- 
ing. Messrs. Pickering and Gardner were the principal 
builders, and the work was done by the day. In 1869 the 
town also voted $7500 for a new school-house on the Greai. 
Plain, which was immediately commenced. Galen Orr, 
Freeman Phillips and Charles B. Dana were chosen a 
building committee, and a loan of $7500 was authorized. 
The school-house on the Great Plain was to contain the 
East High School in its French roof, and was built by Mr. 
Phillips by contract, and cost $11,500. The "East High 
School House" was dedicated on May 17, 1871, at 2 
o'clock. The old house was bought at auction by the school 
committee for $2800, and removed to Greendale (formerly 
Pudding Point), ^ by William B. Jewett, at an expense of 
$1250, where it was remodelled for $1209.69. It is still 
(191 1) the home of the Harris School, which was opened 
in the fall of 1872, with seventeen pupils taught by Miss 
Fannie E. Longfellow. The large lot on which the school- 
house formerly stood was sold for $1000 in 1875. 

^ Usually pronounced " Puddin Pint " by old-fashioned people. 



358 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In 1872 the town declined to employ a superintendent 
of schools, and did not have one till Frank E. Parlin began 
his duties in September, 1893. He gave two fifths of his 
time to Needham, and the remainder to Natick. His suc- 
cessor, Henry M. Walradt, also served elsewhere. It was 
not until 1907 that Needham had the entire time of a super- 
intendent, when Walter Knight Putney was engaged. 

In 1874 the town voted to assess $10,000, and to borrow 
$20,000 to pay for the school-houses to be built in Grant- 
ville and in the North district, and chose as a building com- 
mittee for Grantville Flavins J. Lake, Lyman K. Putney 
and Gamaliel Bradford, and for the Lower Falls the Honor- 
able George White, William Heckle and Henry B. Scudder. 
That year Needham expended nearly $50,000 on education. 
George Spring was the contractor for the North school- 
house, which cost almost $15,000, the old building bring- 
ing $1000. In 1873 the school committee had urged the 
erection of a house near Aqueduct Bridge. The old building 
at Grantville was sold for $2898.90, and is now a double 
house on Washington Street. 

After some years of consideration and delay it became 
evident that a large appropriation for a new school-house 
in the South district could not be obtained, but the town 
built a house there in 1876 for about $5200, Captain Fiske, 
Freeman Phillips and Marshall Newell serving as the build- 
ing committee. On April i, 1878, the town accepted a 
bell given by citizens, and which was already in the tower 
and in use. In 1876, and for ten years or more, a school 
was kept in the French roof of the Odd Fellows Building 
on the Great Plain, and the school committee advised the 
construction of a small school-house on the same lot with 
the Kimball school-house. The Kimball building was only 
five years old, but was already so inadequate that one de- 
partment, as stated, was occupying a hired room in a fire 
trap, which was burned in 1887, but fortunately when the 
school was not in session. The Intermediate school was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 359 

the one in the Odd Fellows Building in 1880, and in other 
years. 

In 1877 the committee urged the town to build a school- 
house between the Great Plain and HIghlandville, and 
recomme'nded improved instruction in drawing and music. 
During the seventies there had been a great advance in 
grading the schools, and in methods of teaching, which 
progress has continued to the present time. In 1878 twenty 
children from Needham attended school in Natick, and 
their tuition at $12 each was paid by the town. 

The school-house at the Centre was burned on the even- 
ing of January 30, 1878, and that year a new one was built 
on a large lot purchased of Davis K. Mills, and early in 1880 
the old site was sold for $50 to John Ward, owner of the 
Neholden Block property. Richard Marks was the con- 
tractor for the new building, which cost $4500, and the Hon- 
orable Galen Orr, Charles H. Flagg and Thomas Whitaker 
were the building committee. After the school-house was 
burned the pupils in the upper department went to HIgh- 
landville for the remainder of that term and the whole of 
the next. A shop where knit-goods had been made, near 
the school-house lot, very poorly sheltered the primary 
school for several months, but in the autumn the new house 
was ready for use.^ 

In 1880 a committee of five was chosen to consider the 
insufficient school-houses on the Great Plain and at HIgh- 
landville, and in April the majority reported in favor of two 
new buildings, both not to cost more than $6000, but the 
minority preferred one adequate house between the two 



' The Needham Chronicle and Wellesley Advertiser said of the loss of this 
school-house: "The destruction of the Centre Schoolhouse did not cause much 
interruption to the schools, the pupils of one being sent the next morning to 
Highlandville Schoolhouse, while the others were accommodated in a building 
formerly used for a hosiery factory ". 

On Wednesday night the Centre School House, in which two Schools were 
kept, was discovered to be on fire, and although quite a large number were soon 
on the ground, nothing could be done to prevent its destruction. The fire was 
doubtless of incendiary origin. We understood that it was insured for $1,500." 



36o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

villages. West Needham was not represented on this 
committee. 

This question came up again in 1884, and in 1885 the town 
received $30,403.05 in its settlement with Wellesley, which 
sum, after paying expenses amounting to $2750, was made 
a School Fund. Of this money $11,000 were expended to 
enlarge the Kimball and Avery school-houses and $2500 
to heat them with steam. A lot of land adjoining the Avery 
school-grounds was purchased in 1885, and the two school- 
houses, the Kimball and the Avery, were cut in twain, the 
ends separated, and the space filled with new work, to which 
wings were added. On August 4, 1884, the town appropri- 
ated $700 to pay for school-books, and has since made annual 
grants for this purpose. By vote of the town the South 
school was named the Parker School on April i, 1878, in 
honor of Jonathan Parker, whose home was near, and who 
was killed at West Cambridge on April 19, 1775. In 1886 
the other schools were appropriately named as follows: 
Those at the Great Plain, then all in one building, the 
Kimball School, in honor of the Rev. Daniel Kimball, who 
did much for education in Needham, those at Highland- 
ville, the Avery School, in honor of Jonathan Avery, who 
was the pioneer in developing that section, the one at the 
old Centre, the Dwight School, in honor of Timothy Dwight, 
who gave the School Land to the town, the school at the 
Upper Falls, the Eliot School, in honor of the Apostle to 
the Indians, and the one at Greendale, the Harris School, 
in honor of John Morton Harris, a useful member of the 
school committee who died in the spring of 1884. 

In 1889 the town refused to build a new school-house on 
the Great Plain, but the next year expended $1500 to improve 
the ventilation of the Kimball school building. 

Until April, 1895, the instruction in drawing was given 
by the regular teachers in the different schools, but that year 
a special instructress was employed, and a drawing teacher 
is now considered indispensable. In 1897 $4000 were appro- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 361 

priated for improvements of the Avery school-house, in- 
cluding better ventilation, and also $250 for the Kimball 
school building. The latter sum was taken from the School 
Fund, which was virtually extinguished on November 12, 
1897, when the selectmen burned the bonds of the "Electric 
Light Loan" to the amount of $13,500, par value, in which 
the balance of the fund had been invested. This action had 
been authorized by the town on "All Fools Day" (April 
i), 1897. 

Appropriations which formerly would have seemed large 
have been made from time to time for modernizing the 
school-houses, and for the health and comfort of the pupils, 
and in 1905 and 1906 a new Avery school-house was built, 
on the opposite side of the street from the older one, which 
continues in use. The new building, which is of red brick 
with sandstone trimmings, cost about $23,000, with the 
land and grading, and was ready for occupancy in Septem- 
ber, 1906. Horace A. Carter gave 5000 feet of land on the 
southeasterly side to enlarge the grounds, and Alfred J. 
Mercer an equal amount on the east. The building com- 
mittee consisted of the school committee, and William Gorse, 
who was the chairman, Joseph B. Thorpe, Edmund G. 
Pond, Henry Godfrey, Jr., and William P. Bailey. The 
architect was Lemont D. Litchfield, and the contractor 
J. J. Prindeville. 

In 1908 the length of the Eliot school-house was doubled, 
the porch being moved forward, and two wings added, at 
a cost of nearly $10,000. 

TEACHERS 

Of the teachers subsequent to the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence there are a number that for one reason or another 
are referred to in the following pages, in several instances 
because of long service. Doubtless there are a hundred 
more that are worthy of a place in this town history, but an 
expression of our gratitude to them, and a fitting notice 



362 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

of their faithful labors, must be deferred to a special history 
of our schools, yet to be written. 

Dorothy Hall, daughter of David, taught the West End 
school at least seven of the summer terms from 1776 to 
1789. When she first had this school she was a minor, and 
her wages were paid to her father. She is called "Mifs Dolly" 
in our town records, and is said to have been a successful 
teacher in other towns as well as in Needham. Widow 
Elizabeth Drury, West End 1778-92, a noted teacher in 
several towns. 

Samuel Coolidge, West End 1781-90. Sarah Townsend, 
178 1-8, usually taught in the Brick school-house. 

Dr. Timothy Fuller, Harvard College 1787, a son of Amos, 
Great Plain 1783-96. Dr. Fuller died in 1799. Moses 
Alden had the school at the Upper Falls 1785-96, and ap- 
parently he taught the summer term in 1796, an unusual 
experience for a man in those days. Moses Kingsbery, Jr., 
Brick or West Meeting-house 1786-97. 

Jonathan Gay, Jr., later prominent for many years as 
Capt. Gay, Great Plain or Brick 1798-1820, with the excep- 
tion of one term at the Upper Falls. Mary Harris, daughter 
of Ensign Michael Harris, usually taught the Brick school 
1800-16, although she had the Great Plain school in the 
summer of 1806. Dr. Samuel Gould, Great Plain 1802-28, 
with the exception of a term at the Upper Falls in the winter 
of 1803/4. Israel Whitney, sexton, cobbler and town offi- 
cial, taught the Great Plain school in the winter of 1807/8, 
and at the Brick school-house four winters, 181 2-16. Miss 
Abigail Walker, a teacher of whom various anecdotes are 
told, 1810-30, several districts, particularly the Great 
Plain. John Tolman Great Plain or South 1810-21. Mary 
Fisher, daughter of George Fisher, later Mrs. Leonard 
Battelle, South 18 17-21. She was the Honorable Enos H, 
Tucker's first teacher, and he made her name familiar to 
the writer. Job Haskell, Great Plain 1824/5. George 
Hiram Gay and Ezra Fuller, both of whom lived to a great 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 363 

age, were recipients of his instruction and correction. Solo- 
mon Flagg began to teach in 1826 and for thirty-eight 
years was a schoolmaster in Needham and in other towns. 
He is identified with several districts, notably the West 
and South. Mr. Tucker, who at difi"erent times attended 
school in every district in Needham, and also in a district 
in Dedham, said that Mr. Flagg was his best teacher, and 
that he learned a great deal from him. Miss Lucy Dakin 
Hunt, Centre, or small school in the West, 1837-50, except 
1847, when she was at the Great Plain. Gustavus Adolphus 
Somerby taught at the Centre in the winter of 1 840/1. 
He belonged to a well-known Newbury family, and was 
prominent among the lawyers of Boston, gaining a reputa- 
tion as a keen and able counsel for the defence in the noted 
trial of Alley accused of the murder of Abijah Ellis. 

Charles Hiram Dewing, later for many years superinten- 
dent of streets. South two winters, 1847/8 and 1849/50. 
Miss Charlotte Kingsbury, of a well-known West Needham 
family, 1848-65, North, East, Great Plain and Centre. Miss 
Kingsbury was a severe teacher, and stories are told of hcj 
skill in tripping up boys, and of mediaeval punishment;.. 
Adeline Maria Eaton, later Mrs. John M. Harris, 1849-63, 
East, South, Centre, but chiefly the primary school on the 
Great Plain. Miss Charlotte M. Sawyer, later Mrs. Luthei 
Allen Kingsbury, North and Grantville 1853-65. She taught 
the latter school 1856-65, and her sister, Miss Harriet 
Elizabeth Sawyer, later Mrs. Ezra C. Dudley, East or West 
or Centre primary, 1854-9, and in 1865 succeeded Char- 
lotte at Grantville, where she taught in 1866. They were 
daughters of Otis and Charlotte Sawyer. Albert Palmer, 
A.M., Dartmouth 1858, later State Senator, and Mayor of 
Boston in 1883, was master of the Great Plain school five 
winters 1853-8, and his brother, Alanson, who was grad- 
uated at Dartmouth in i860, and was A.M., had the Centre 
school two winters, 1855-7, and the South two, 1858-60. 
A third brother, Wilson, Dartmouth i860, Albany Law 



364 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

School 1864, LL.B., taught the East school two winters, 
1855-7, ^^^ the Centre four winters, 1857-61, a remarkable 
combination of brothers. 

Miss Caroline Elizabeth Dewing, now Mrs. Wise, was one 
of Needham's best teachers and had the North school in 
1856, '65, '66, '72-4, West primary in the winter of 1856/7, 
also summer terms, which included all of the pupils, 1857, '58, 
'63, '67, '68; Great Plain, upper school, winters of 1858/9, 
'60/1, summer of 1859, South winter of 1862/3, Centre 
1864, '65. 

Miss Angelina Elizabeth Hofses, Centre 1857; well- 
remembered as the teacher of the Centre primary for twenty- 
one years, retiring in 1878. 

Isabella Sumner Kingsbury, assistant at the Avery School 
1876- . Others who have taught for more than twenty 
years in Needham are: Martha Frances Kingsbury, Dwight 
School (grammar), Mary Maria Sutton (now Mrs. Thomas 
J. Crossman), Dwight School (primary) and assistant at the 
Kimball School, Mary E. Glancey, Harris School, Eliza- 
beth A. Lester, Eliot School and assistant at the Avery 
School, Florence E. Eaton, assistant at the Kimball School. 
Miss Sutton resigned at the close of the school year in 1910. 

APPROPRIATIONS. — TEACHERS' WAGES 

The appropriations prior to 1800 were: 1733-49 from £20 to 
£80, usuallyold tenor and badly depreciated, 1750-9, £13, 6s., 
8d. when in hard money, and 1760-76 from £20 to £60, in 
money not always of the best quality. Of the £50 voted in 
1745 £20 "of it [was] to be laid out for a School Dame and 
the other thirty pounds to be laid out for a School Mafter". 
Between 1735 and 1749 the ratio varied from three to seven 
shillings of currency for one shilling in hard money, and the 
wages of the men teachers were as high as £12, los. per 
month and their board from thirty to thirty-five shillings per 
week. At this time £2, los. per month, in hard money, was 
considered fair pay, and board could be had at from five to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 365 

six shillings per week. The wages of a woman teacher were 
about four shillings per week, hard money, and her board 
was reckoned at about two shillings. 

The teachers were by no means all paid alike, as, for example, 
the town would board Mr. Vialas and his horse, and pay 
him in addition perhaps ten shillings per week, when in some 
instances a young man resident in the town received only ten 
shillings, although he boarded himself. It was also true 
of the women that some were in demand and when they 
taught in Needham were paid more than others. Appar- 
ently certain elderly widows were not in a position to dic- 
tate as to their compensation, although they may have 
been fairly competent teachers. 

The average appropriation for schools was: 1781-90 £65, 
1791-5 £110, 1796-9 $475. 

During the War of the Revolution the teachers were paid 
in currency so greatly depreciated that in 1780 a man re- 
ceived £250 per month, equal, however, to not more than 
£3, los. in hard money, perhaps somewhat less. A woman 
was paid £84 for teaching four weeks, when from about 
1763 to the beginning of the war the best female teachers, 
who boarded themselves, got but 5s. 4d. per week. After 
the war many of the women were not paid more than four 
shillings per week till subsequent to 1800, and even as late 
as 1 841 a young teacher. Miss Mary Adams, was paid $18 for 
a term of twelve weeks. From 1788 to 1795 the wages of the 
male teachers varied from los., 6d. to sixteen shillings per 
week, depending somewhat upon the efficiency of the teacher, 
and the board of a man was from five to six shillings per 
week, which when furnished by the town reduced his net 
wages accordingly. In 1793/4 Eleazer Taft, who was master 
of the South school, received nearly £1 per week, including 
his board and the care of his horse. 

From 1795 to 1820 the pay of the teachers increased, and in 
1804 some men could command $6.50 per week, and in 1819 
$7.75, but in twenty years the cost of board had risen from 



366 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

$1.75 to $3.50 per week. During this period the advance 
of the women's compensation had hardly kept pace with 
the expense of living. In 1802 the board was more than one 
half of the teacher's wages, and had been for at least fifty 
years, but by 1820 the female teachers had been gradually 
advanced to $3 per week, and board did not then exceed 
$1.50 per week. In 1840 Needham paid the male teachers, 
exclusive of board, an average compensation of $19.97 P^'' 
month, the board averaging $9.28 per month, and in 1850, 
without estimating the cost of board but including it, $35.36 
per month. In 1840 the women received but $6.28 per 
month, and board averaged $6, making the total compen- 
sation $12.28 per month, but in 1850 there was a decided 
advance, partly due to the employment of women in the 
winter, to an average of $18.62 per month, including board. 

STATISTICS 

1 840/ 1. Children in town between the ages of four and 
sixteen 387. Number enrolled in the schools: Summer 307, 
average attendance 208. Winter 373, average attendance 
264. Under four years of age 45, over sixteen 27. Teachers: 
Summer 6 women. Winter 6 men, i woman. Aggregate 
number of months that school was kept: Summer terms, 
all districts combined, 23 months and seven days. Winter 
24 months and seven days. Total 47 months and fourteen 
days. 

There were also two private schools, presumably the 
Rev. Daniel Kimball's in East Needham and Mr. Adam's 
in West Needham, in which there were on the average 
32 scholars, whose tuition amounted to $418. These pri- 
vate schools were kept an aggregate of 15 months, which 
was an increase of three months since the preceding year. 

1 850/1. Children in town between the ages of five and 
fifteen 387. Number enrolled in the schools: Summer 
310, average attendance 241. Winter 400, average attend- 
ance 293. By districts: West 93, North 73, Centre 69, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 367 

East 56, South 50, Great Plain 46, Nine schools. Teachers: 
Summer 6 women, Winter 5 men, 4 women. Aggregate 
number of months that school kept: Summer terms, all 
districts combined, 27. Winter 33. Total 60 months. 

1 860/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 561. Enrolled: 
Summer 471, average attendance 343. Winter 504, average 
attendance 390. Teachers: Summer 11 women. Winter 
5 men, 7 women. Aggregate number of months of school: 
Summer 55. Winter 45. 

1 870/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 689. Number of 
individuals enrolled 818, average attendance 538. Teachers 
2 men, 15 women. 

1 880/1. Children from five to fifteen 885. Individuals 
enrolled 1058, average membership 724, average attendance 
628. Teachers 2 men, 25 women. 

1881/2. Children from five to fifteen 509. Individuals 
590, average membership 451, average attendance 388. 
Teachers i man, 13 women. 

1885/6. Children from five to fifteen 453. Individuals 
587, average membership 502, average attendance 444. 

1 890/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 479. Individuals 
639, average membership 520, average attendance 473. 
Teachers 2 men, 16 women. 

1900/1. Children from five to fifteen 592. Individuals 
732, average membership 662, average attendance 603. 
Teachers 2 men, 20 women, not including the instructors 
in music and in drawing. 

1905. Children from five to fifteen (September i) 836 
— boys 418, girls 418. 

Individuals 830 — boys 416, girls 414, average member- 
ship 791.6, average membership per teacher 29.3, average 
attendance 736.5. Teachers 2 men, 28 women. 

1910/11. Children from five to fifteen (September i) 
896 — boys 468, girls 428. 

Individuals enrolled January i, 191 1, 1075 — boys 559, 
girls 516. Teachers 3 men, 34 women. 



368 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

THE SCHOOL LAND IN DOVER 

Mr. Timothy Dwight, an honored citizen of Dedham, 
gave to the town of Needham thirty-four acres of land in 
the Springfield Parish of Dedham for the benefit of the school, 
but he died January 26, 1717/18, without having executed 
the deed. This omission was remedied by his sons, Henry 
and Seth, who gave the town deeds in 1727, but, although 
the selectmen granted Andrew Dewing on November 13, 
1727, the sum of £1, los. "for Gitting the Deeds & gitting 
of s*^ Deeds upon Record of a Certaine peac or parsell of 
Land Given s*^ [?by] mr Timothy Dwit Late of Deedham 
for the benefit of a School in this Town", there was trouble 
about the title as late as 1764. Quaint votes were passed in 
1744, 1744/5, 1748? 1749/5O5 and committees repeatedly 
appointed " to git the Deeds " "Executed According to Law ", 
as the second of these votes stated. The deeds were never 
recorded till June i, 1876. Henry Dwight describes the 
land in his deed to the town as thirty and one half acres, 
sixteen rods, and as originally granted "to Peter Woodward 
deceast layed near the Indian Plantation called Natick 
upon a plaine within", and in Seth's deed the land is stated 
to be a part of "Natick Devident". From January 14, 
17 1 8/19, to modern times committees were appointed to 
care for this land, "Run the Lines", lease it, or to sell the 
wood. On May 20, 1745, the question was raised as to 
"the Towns power to fell the land that M"" Dwight gave", 
and Captain Cook, Capt. Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith 
were chosen to investigate, and to ascertain what it would 
sell for. In 1764 the town voted to sell the land, but six 
years later was convinced that in order to do so authority 
must be given by the General Court, and the committee 
which was chosen on May 23, 1770, to "Take a Plann of 
the School Land: Given by M'' Dwight to y* Town: Lying 
in Springfield the Forth Parrifh in Dedham:" was instructed 
on June 8 to "Put in a Petition into the General Court to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 369 

Sell Said Land". John Jones, Esq., "Surveyer" of "Need- 
ham's School Lot in Dedham;" drew the "Petition to the 
General Court for Sale". 

In 1776 wood was sold on the land, but that year a small 
portion of it was let "Under Improvement", and apparently 
in 1 79 1 the town voted to let the whole of it, which would 
account for there being no income from the sale of wood 
for many years. 

In 1795 the town declined to lease the land, and there 
were sales of wood in October, 1803, when the proceeds, 
chiefly represented by notes, amounted to $762, and the 
expenses to $18.14. Perhaps wood was sold in 1801, cer- 
tainly in June, 1816, there was an important sale, with 
Nathaniel Bullard as auctioneer; Solomon Flagg furnished 
"Rum for Vendue School wood". For half a century the 
income thus derived yielded the schools annually from $90 
to $100, even more in certain years, as the fund was rein- 
forced by sales in 1825, 1839, 1859 and 1864. Only $205.33 
was realized in 1859, as a part of the School Land had been 
burned over in 1855, but it amounted to $866.49 in 1864. 
This tract was taxed by Dover to the year of its sale, the 
bill for 1808 and 1809 amounting to $6.02 for two years, 
and that for 1898 to $11.06. The School Land was sold in 
1902 for $6000, and became a part of the Cheney estate, 
the proceeds forming the Dwight School Fund. 

In 1839 the town voted to sell some land and wood which 
it owned with individuals "in High Rock", and a partition 
was to be obtained if the other tenants in common did not 
wish to sell. 

On December 31, 1739, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, John 
Fisher, Esq., and Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock were "Chofe a 
Committee to treat with Dedham Select men . . . Concern- 
ing the Land and money which was given for the ufe of 
the School". This was apparently Church land and school 
money possessed by Dedham, and not the Dwight land, as 
on May 29, 1755, Amos Fuller and Dea. Josiah Newell were 



370 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

chosen "to See what proportion of the Church Land formerly 
Granted to Dedham Belongs to Needham". 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS 

Miss Thayer had a private school, presumably for girls, 
in West Needham in 1820. In 1826 the Rev. Daniel Kim- 
ball, who had been the principal of Derby Academy, Hing- 
ham, from 1808 to 1826, came to Needham, and opened a 
day and boarding school, or academy, for boys and girls, 
in his house at the corner of Great Plain Avenue and Mark 
Tree Road. Mr. Kimball personally conducted the school 
for about fourteen or fifteen years, and then his son Henry 
C. Kimball had charge of it for some two years, the school 
coming to an end about 1843. The writer has met a number 
of the pupils at this school, where studied the Honorable 
Alexander H. Rice, Governor of Massachusetts in 1876-8, 
and others of note. Elizabeth Hunt, later Mrs. Noyes, 
attended this academy, coming from Boylston, and there 
were other girls whose homes were in Worcester and vicinity. 
Charles Hiram Dewing, Charles C. Greenwood and Augustus 
Eaton were among the Needham boys who were day scholars 
there, the latter entering the school in 1841, after Henry 
C. Kimball had in a measure taken his father's place. The 
only criticism of the school was that the boarding scholars 
were not fed liberally, but as Mr. Greenwood was a day 
scholar this did not affect him, and he had a life-long affec- 
tion and reverence for Mr. Kimball, who was an active and 
useful man in the community. He died January 17, 1862, 
in his eighty-fourth year, and there is a sketch of his life 
in the History of Norfolk County, 1884. Mr. Kimball is 
chiefly remembered in Needham for his valuable services 
on the school committee. 

For particulars of the building in which the Rev. William 
H. Adams kept his private school in West Needham from 
1846 to 1852 see the account of the post-offices, as he was 
the first postmaster at Grantville. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 371 

The Oakland Institute, a "Classical and English Boarding 
School for Youth of Both Sexes at Needham, Great Plain, 
Mass.", was opened on May i, 1856, and the first entire 
school year was divided into two sessions of twenty weeks 
each, extending from September 10, 1856 to July 7, 1857, 
with three weeks' vacation from January 27 to February 18. 
Charles M. Dinsmoor, the principal, taught the English 
branches and Latin, Mrs. C.N. Dinsmoor, the "Preceptress", 
was teacher of Mental and Moral Philosophy, as well as of 
certain English branches. William H. S. Ventres, A.B., 
Harvard 1855, taught Latin, Greek and Mathematics, 
and "Mdm." Urbino, formerly Miss L. Buoncore, gave in- 
struction in Modern Languages and Ornamental Branches. 
The tuition was from $200 to $240 per year for the boarding 
scholars, and $6 per quarter for the day pupils, who took 
only the "common branches", with an addition of $2 for 
the "higher branches". A second circular was issued, and 
one, or both, of these circulars stated that "the Institute 
building is new and spacious" with "all modern improve- 
ments " "situated on an elevation, it commands an extended 
view of the beautiful rural country around, which is unsur- 
passed in the variety of its scenery". The building had 
been erected by Mr. Dinsmoor especially for a school. 
Before coming to Needham Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmoor had 
had five years' experience as teachers in Framingham and 
Newton. 

Under date of July, 1857, Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., as 
principal, informed the public by circular that the "Oak- 
land Institute" a "Classical and English School", at Need- 
ham, "will be resumed July 7". It was to be a day school, 
and the tuition $4 and $6 per quarter, each language taught 
to be $2 per quarter extra. The Rev. Adiel Harvey, who 
had been a Baptist minister in Weymouth, was the next 
principal of the Oakland Institute, and it was then a board- 
ing school for girls only. The Harveys were prominent in 
the social life of the town. On November 7, 1862, a "Musi- 



372 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

cal Soiree" was given, the music to commence at 7.30 
o'clock in the evening, on which occasion some war songs 
were included in the programme. These "Soirees", which 
took place at the close of the school terms, are still remem- 
bered with pleasure. There were girls from the South and 
other distant sections among Mr. Harvey's pupils. 

From 1867 to 1872 the Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, A.M., 
owned the property, and had a boarding and day school 
for boys there, the boarders rarely exceeding twenty in 
number, or the day scholars ten. Annual exhibitions were 
given in June in Village Hall, afterward Parker Hall, and 
the writer, who was a day scholar at this school from April, 
1870 to the close of 1871, has a vivid recollection of those 
occasions, in one, or more, of which he had a part. Music 
was furnished by a fine band, and there was a special late 
train to Boston. Military drill had been a feature of this 
school, but was abandoned prior to April, 1870. Mr. Clarke 
called his school the Oakland Hall School, judging by the 
exhibition programmes, instead of Oakland Institute, which 
latter name had been used by his predecessors. 

Mrs. Clementina B. Cummings owned the property for 
about ten years, succeeding the Appleton Temporary Home 
for Inebriates, and it was in her time a good summer board- 
ing-house known as "The Pines". Later the estate was 
bought by John Moseley, who removed the large building 
to May Street. 

GRADUATES OF COLLEGES 

The following young men born in Needham, or resident 
there at the time of entering college, graduated during the 
first one hundred and fifty years after the incorporation of 
the town: Jonathan Townsend 1741, Jonathan Newell 
1770, Ephralm Drury 1776, Timothy Fuller 1787, Daniel 
Clark Sanders 1788, S.T.D. 1809, President of the Univer- 
sity of Vermont, Samuel West 1788, Calvin Whiting 1791, 
Luther Mills 1792, Nathan Plimpton West 1792, Isaac 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 373 

Morrill 1805, Joseph Palmer 1820, M.D. 1826, James Ritchie 
1835, Benjamin Gage Kimball 1835, Henry Colman Kim- 
ball 1840, Joseph Emery FIske 1861 (A.M. 1871), Andover 
Theological Seminary 1867. All of the foregoing graduated 
at Harvard College, and all received the degree of A.M. 
except Drury, Fuller and the Kimball brothers. George 
Ellery Clarke, A.M., was graduated at Williams In 1851. 
A large number of students have prepared for college at the 
Needham High School within the last twenty years, and 
some of them have had fine records In the great universities. 

WELLESLEY COLLEGE 

Wellesley College was founded by Henry Fowle Durant, 
a prominent lawyer of Boston who made his summer home 
In West Needham before the Civil War, and In 1864 owned 
about two hundred acres there. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. 
Durant lost by death their only son, and consecrated the 
remainder of their lives to the service of others. The College 
was Incorporated on March 17, 1870, as the Wellesley Fe- 
male Seminary, and the name was changed to Wellesley 
College on March 7, 1873. Mrs. Durant laid the first stone 
of the first building of this institution, which was destined 
to become great within a few years, on August 18, 1871, 
and on September 14, of that year, the corner-stone was 
laid. The land was given by Mr. Durant, and he bore the 
expense of the original, or Main, building, the construction 
of which he directed. It Is beautiful and artistic inside and 
without, of fine proportions, and built in the best manner. 
It Is In the shape of a double Latin cross, and more than 
seven millions of bricks, and twenty miles of steam, water 
and gas pipes were required. On September 8, 1875, the 
Main Building, which provided for thirty teachers and three 
hundred students, was opened for use; the first graduating 
class was that of 1879, which numbered eighteen, and from 
1875 to 1885 more than twenty-three hundred students were 
registered. There were forty-one graduates in 1880, and In 



374 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the autumn of that year the college had three hundred and 
seventy-two students, and others had applied, but could 
not be received for lack of room. Charles B. Dana gave 
to the college the old Church, which he had moved to his 
own land, and it was then intended for normal and graduate 
students, but in 1881 it became the main building of Dana 
Hall, a preparatory school, which later required several 
large buildings. 

On May 27, 1880, the corner-stone of Stone Hall was 
laid, and in September, 1881, this fine building, the gift 
of Mrs. Valeria G. Stone of Maiden, was opened for use. 
It is a dormitory for one hundred undergraduates, and 
cost $100,000. On June 10, 1880, the corner-stone of the 
College of Music was laid. This college is on a knoll, over- 
looking the lake, and was one of the munificent gifts of Mr. 
Durant. The College of Music was used in June, 1881. 

These are the college buildings that existed when the 
College was within the limits of Needham, and the constant 
extension and expansion of this grand institution to the 
present time does not appertain to this town history. When 
the College opened its doors in 1875 there were twenty- 
nine professors and teachers, of whom Miss Ada Lydia 
Howard was the chief, and not only the first president of 
Wellesley College, but said to be the first woman in the world 
who held a college presidency. She served from 1875 to 
1882, received the degree of Litt.D. from Mt. Holyoke in 
1890, and died in 1907. 

In 1885 the College possessed four hundred acres of land, 
an addition of one hundred acres since 1875. 

Mr. Durant's tremendous energy, great influence and 
ability were enlisted in favor of the division of the town, and 
East Needham had no man who could cope with him, al- 
though he was then much out of health, and died October 
3, 1 88 1. By founding this noble College Henry Fowle 
Durant made his name immortal. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 375 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 

For some years Cyrus William Jones, a careful collector of 
facts, has been gathering material for a history of the libra- 
ries in Needham prior to March 5, 1888, when the Free 
Public Library was created by vote of the town. Mr. 
Jones's work is now completed, and is expected to appear 
as a volume of more than fifty pages. He gives a full account 
of the Social Library, which was formed In 1796 and merged 
in the Needham Library Association eighty-three years 
later, by transfer of its property, and also describes the 
somewhat numerous local or neighborhood libraries, exist- 
ing in different parts of the town in the nineteenth century. 
These local libraries were usually subscription or circulating, 
and the Needham Library Association, formed in the early 
seventies, was owned by Its stockholders. There were also 
three, or more, school district libraries, organized in the 
early forties, and two Agricultural libraries, dating from 
before the Civil War. There was an old library of religious 
books connected with the West Church, and the Sunday 
Schools have had their collections of volumes, in some 
instances for more than half a century. 

After the loss by fire of nearly all of the books of the Need- 
ham Library Association, the town voted to have a public 
library, and designated it, on March 19, 1888, the Needham 
Free Public Library, appropriating the dog taxes, $428.10, 
to Its support. An Old Folks concert yielded about $75 
for the library, which with fines made an addition of nearly 
$100 to the income. During 1888 ten hundred and seventy- 
eight volumes were acquired, largely by gift. In 1889 the 
town granted $200 besides the dog taxes, and continued 
this annual amount in 1890, but in 1891 increased It to $300 
and the dog taxes, which was the usual appropriation until 
the new building was erected. The first librarian was Francis 
de M. Dunn, who served from 1888 to the spring of 1892, 
with Mrs. Riella J. Dunn as the assistant. The latter year 



376 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Mrs. Dunn became librarian, and held that position until 
April I, 1908, when she was succeeded by Miss Ella R. 
M'=Dowell. The organization and development of the library 
was a labor of love with Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, and for many 
years they rendered important services to the community. 
From its commencement to October, 1898, the library was 
in the small hall on the second floor of the Moseley Building, 
later known as the May Building. When the High School- 
house was completed the library occupied two fine, large 
east rooms on the first floor, and remained there till July, 
1908, at which time it was removed to the Town Hall, 
having the two easterly rooms on the Chapel Street side. 

The formal opening of the library in the High School 
building took place on December 3, 1898, with appropriate 
exercises. The fine oak furniture, which cost $687.15, was 
the gift of the Library Building Fund Association, which 
had been collecting money for some years. Miss Helen M. 
Knowlton, the artist, loaned the library twenty-five valu- 
able paintings, and several persons presented good pictures, 
including Francis de M. Dunn, who gave three. 

Early in January, 1903, it was announced that Leonard 
Dawson had secured by correspondence an off"er from Andrew 
Carnegie, D.C.L., to give ten thousand dollars for a library 
building, and the town accepted this gift on March 2. 
After a spirited contest it was voted to locate the new 
building in Highlandville on land donated by William Carter, 
and on March 16 a building committee was chosen consist- 
ing of Mr. Dawson, Mr. Carter, Francis de M. Dunn, Charles 
E. Stanwood, Robert B. Walker, James F. Ryan, Henry 
T. Childs, George K. Clarke and William Gorse. The 
first sod was removed on the site by Samuel Hudson on 
June 5, 1903, when there were appropriate exercises, in- 
cluding addresses by several officials, and singing. There 
was another large attendance of the citizens, and similar 
exercises, on August 20, when Mrs. Jane G. A. Carter laid 
the corner-stone. The keys were informally handed over 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 377 

to the selectmen on April 6, 1904, and on June 18 the dedi- 
cation exercises were held in the town hall with addresses 
hy Lieutenant-Governor Curtis Guild, Jr., and by the Hon- 
orable Samuel L. Powers, member of Congress from this 
district. An excellent portrait of the venerable Samuel 
Hudson was then presented to the library by his son. At 
other times Mr. Carter gave the granolithic walks, Thomas 
G. Lester presented the historical tablet, and Selectman 
Joseph B. Thorpe gave the fountain for drinking water. 
The cost of the building with its furnishings was upward of 
$13,000, Including $440 donated by citizens, and the expense 
of grading, and other outside work, made the total about 
$14,000. The town reports for 1903 and 1904 contain full 
particulars as to this building. The contractors were 
Fissell & Wagner, and the architect was Albert Ran- 
dolph Ross of New York City, Walter L. Parks assisting 
him. 

For years it has been the policy of the trustees to obtain 
annually some books of permanent and increasing value, 
and there is reason for pride in these volumes, which in- 
clude a goodly number of fine English works. In 1890 the 
library contained two thousand and one volumes, and the 
circulation for that year was ten thousand two hundred and 
twenty-seven, in 1900 there were approximately six thousand 
two hundred and seventy-five books, and a circulation of 
fifteen thousand three hundred and five, in 1910 there were 
upward of thirteen thousand bound volumes, and the cir- 
culation was twenty-eight thousand and sixty-two, not 
counting twenty-three hundred and ninety-eight magazines 
and pamphlets. 

Catalogues were printed In 1889, In July, 1892, 1895 (In- 
cluded books received from January, 1890 to January, 1895, 
except those found in the list of 1892), and in 1899. The 
catalogue of July, 1892, Is only of the books added to the 
library. In 1908 and 1909 a complete card catalogue was 
prepared, and a printed catalogue for home use was dis- 



378 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

trlbuted In July, 1909. The total cost of these catalogues 
exceeded $1200, and was all paid from the regular appro- 
priations. There were twelve hundred copies printed. In 
191 1 the older library Is open three afternoons and three 
evenings each week, and the newer one Saturday afternoon 
and three evenings. 

On March 23, 1909, books were sent to the Eliot School 
for the use of the pupils, the principal, Miss Alice H. Eber- 
hardt, having offered to act as assistant librarian, and this 
arrangement was continued until the neighboring delivery 
station was fully established. On September 28, 1909, a 
delivery station was opened for the service of the public at 
Mrs. Margaret F. McDonald's store, Upper Falls, and books 
have been sent there each Tuesday, the local circulation 
rapidly Increasing. 

In 1909 and 1910 three hundred and forty-five books 
were received from Miss Helen M. Bean, executrix of George 
Fellows Bean. When the town was divided Mr. Bean 
desired to go with Wellesley, but his house was left on the 
Needham side by a few rods. It Is said that he rarely. If 
ever, visited any of the villages of Needham, and conse- 
quently did not vote from 1881 till his death, April 14, 1909. 
In his last illness his thoughts returned to the old town, and 
he said that he wished to give his books to Its library, but 
died before he had carried his Intention into effect. For 
years he had been a reader of good literature, and the pur- 
chaser of many volumes, some of which remained In their 
original boxes at the time of his decease. Miss Bean sur- 
vived her brother but little over two years, and the destina- 
tion of the rest of Mr. Bean's library Is not known to the 
writer In June, 191 1. 

The trustees have been: — Albert Ebur Miller, M.D., 
1888-97 (nine years); chairman 1892-6 (five years). Mrs. 
Jane Greenough Avery Carter 1888-97 (nine years). 

Samuel Hartwell Jones 1888 to his death May 3, 1893, 
aged seventy-three years; chairman 1888-91 (four years). 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 379 

Samuel Hudson 1888 to his death December 11, 1905, 
aged eighty-six years; chairman 1902. 

Mrs. Alice Mayo Hicks 1888- . 

Francis de Maurice Dunn, A.B., 1888- . 

George Kuhn Clarke, A.M., LL.B., 1894- ; chairman 
1897-1901, 1903- . 

Thomas Sutton 1 897-1902, resigned early In 1902. 

James Benjamin Lester 1897-9 (three years). 

George Edmund Jones 1900-5 (six years). 

Winthrop Morton Southworth, A.B., 1902. 

Robert Burns Walker 1903- . 

William Carter 1906- . 

Harry Woodard 1906-10 (five years). 

William Gorse 191 1- . 

The first trustees were elected on March 19, 1888. Samuel 
H. Jones had been president of the Needham Library Asso- 
ciation for several years, George K. Clarke Its secretary 
from February 10, 1885, and George W. Southworth was 
the librarian for a long period, serving for a time also as 
treasurer. 



Snbugtriesi 

UPPER FALLS 

In 1688 John Clark of Watertown is said to have built 
a dam where is now the "Upper" or "Snuff Mill Dam", 
and in 1782 Thomas Parker constructed one by Turtle 
Island, about one hundred rods west of the other dam. 
Both Clark and Parker had sawmills; the later mill, and 
probably also the earlier one, was on the Newton side. About 
1800 Rufus Ellis, who was the leader in industrial enterprises 
at the Upper Falls, completed a more permanent dam, and 
erected on the island the buildings of the Newton Iron Works 
Company, of which he was agent in 1799, but later sole 
owner under the name of Rufus Ellis & Co. In 18 14 Mr. 
Ellis built a cotton-factory on the Needham side, and 
equipped it with three thousand spindles for weaving sheet- 
ings, and in 1823 he formed the Newton Factories Company, 
which included this cotton-mill.^ By 1833 Rufus Ellis and 
David Ellis were the sole proprietors of the Newton Fac- 
tories Company, and some years the Needham mill was 
taxed to Rufus Ellis only. The cotton-mill was leased in 
1840 to Milton H. Sanford of Medway, who was to make 
Osnaburghs for the Southern market, but in 1844 Barney 
L. White became the lessee, and made improvements, 
including new wheels, and replaced the machinery for the 
manufacture of sheetings. In 1848 Salmon S. Hewitt leased 

' In 1815 George Bird was taxed for "Ellis Paper Mill " located in East Need- 
ham, apparently at the Upper Falls, but this mill has not been identified. The 
wood used in the construction of the cotton-mill in 1814 is said to have been pur- 
chased at auction in Boston, and was originally taken on a prize captured at sea 
during the War of 1812. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 381 

the mill, which on May 8, 1850, was entirely destroyed by 
fire, and never rebuilt. At the division of the town the 
water-privilege and the stone storehouse were still owned 
by the heirs of David Ellis, to whom the property had been 
taxed in 1850. After the fire Mr. Ellis erected a nail-factory 
on the site of the cotton-mill, but it was operated only 
some six years, and was later changed to a grist-mill, and 
burned in 1873. 

The natural fall of the water at the Upper Falls is twenty- 
six feet, fifteen feet at the upper dam, and eleven feet at 
the lower. 

Many residents of Needham were employed in the mills 
on the Newton side, and in the thirties the Elliot Manu- 
facturing Company conducted a savings department for 
Its employees, and some of the Needham girls thus accumu- 
lated money for their wedding outfits. In 1840 the plant 
was sold to Otis Pettee, although his title did not become 
complete until 1845, and the depositors were paid in full, 
and their accounts closed. In 1889 there were perhaps 
seventy-five of these pass books in the attic of the late 
George H. Kuhn, treasurer of the Elliot Manufacturing 
Company from 1832 to 1845, who also had the books of 
the company. The first pass books were of twelve leaves, 
ruled for cash but not lined, the covers of a reddish tint and 
grained, and the dimensions six and five eighths inches by 
four and one eighth inches. Later pass books were both 
ruled up and down, and lined horizontally. These books 
contained eight leaves each, with grained covers of a brownish 
tint, and the dimensions were five and five eighths Inches 
by three and six eighths Inches. A third style of pass book 
was like the second except that there were fourteen leaves, 
with pinkish covers, and the books measured four and six 
eighths inches by three and one quarter inches. The paper 
of all of these books was of a quality to last. Of the few 
books preserved 52 Is the highest number; Elmlna Hale's 
number was 51, and Eliza Bullough of Needham was a 



382 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

depositor in 1840. Most of the deposits did not exceed 
$75, but some were over $100, and Jason Morse, whose 
book was numbered 13, had $542.21 to his credit. High 
rates of interest were allowed. These details are given to 
illustrate the efforts of this company to encourage thrift 
and because the apparent success of this early system of 
saving may be of interest. 

LOWER FALLS 

The First Mill at the Upper Dam was owned in 1825 by 
Amos Lyon, later Amos Lyon & Co., who had purchased 
it from the estate of Ephraim Jackson, Jr. This paper- 
mill was the one nearest to the Upper Dam, and was burned 
on May 19, 1834, together with the machine-shop of Ware 
& Clark, which was close to it on the east. The paper-mill 
was rebuilt, but the business was not successful, and about 
1843 it was bought by Nathaniel Wales, Jr., & Co., later 
the firm of Wales & Mills, William Mills being the junior 
partner. There was a fire at their stockhouse on June 11, 
1843, but how serious it was does not appear. For ten years 
Wales & Mills made paper at this mill, and then sold the 
plant to Thomas Rice, Jr., and until the death of his son 
Frederick W., which occurred after the division of the 
town, it was one of the mills of the Thomas Rice Paper 
Company. The mill was burned in 1869, or 1870, rebuilt, 
and was again destroyed by fire in 1894, when owned by 
Robert Bishop, who was then erecting a large plant on the 
site of the Second Mill, intending to make the cotton and 
paper material that is placed under carpets. 

THE SECOND MILL AT THE LOWER FALLS 

In 1800 the heirs of Col. Ephraim Jackson were taxed 
for a paper-mill in Needham.^ In 18 16 Solomon Curtis 

1 In 1 8 15 Moses Grant, Jr., was assessed in Needham for a paper-mill formerly 
owned by Ephraim Jackson, but whether the First or the Second Mill is not cle^r. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 383 

and William Hurd, "Papermakers", both of Newton, 
bought of William Parker, a Boston merchant, the paper- 
mill which he had acquired the year before from Ephraim 
Jackson, with the exception of one building that had been 
consumed by fire. The purchase included all rights in the 
dam and "Flooms", as well as the wheels and other machin- 
ery. In 1 8 16 an agreement as to water-rights was made, 
and Simon Elliot and Solomon Curtis then represented 
two thirds of a paper-mill and of a sawmill on the Needham 
side, and Hurd and Bemis the other third. The paper and 
fulling-mills were to have the first right, and the sawmill 
the fourth right. In 1822 Isaac Stevens, John Clark and 
Rufus Ellis, all of Boston, sold for $1000 to John Nichols 
and George Hooker, both of Newton, "Paper makers", a 
water-privilege and buildings in Needham, and soon after 
Mr. Hooker conveyed his interest to Allen C. and William 
Curtis. The same year Allen C. Curtis, William Curtis, 
John Nichols, all of Newton, "Paper Makers", and Rufus 
Ellis of Boston sold to John Dodd of Boston, one and one 
half acres at the Upper Dam in Needham, with paper-mill, 
flumes, dam rights and two engines. The deed stated that 
by the agreement of 1816 theirs was the first of the six 
"Paper Mill rights", and named the four parties to the said 
agreement as follows: 

1st, Simon Elliot and Solomon Curtis, 2d, Moses Grant, 
3d, William Hurd and Charles Bemis, 4th, John Ware. 
The deed also reserves the water-rights conveyed to Amos 
Lyon, which were to run his mill. Mr. Dodd sold this prop- 
erty to Harris H. Wolcott and Lorenzo D. Willis in 1828, 
and in a short time they transferred it to Henry D. Wolcott. 
Alexander H. Twombly, a creditor of Messrs. Wolcott and 
Willis, acquired the property in 1830, which then included 
also a nail-factory, and the next year sold it to William 
Hurd and Lemuel Crehore. In 1834 Mr. Crehore conveyed 
his undivided half to Mr. Hurd, who for a dozen years car- 
ried on the manufacture of paper. Jones & Rice were the 



384 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

owners in 1848, then Mr. Boit took the place of Mr. Jones? 
and he was soon succeeded by Moses Garfield, who was in 
business with Charles Rice, Jr., until 1863, when Mr. Gar- 
field bought out Mr. Rice, and for about four years contin- 
ued alone. Mr. Garfield sold the mill to Thomas Rice, and 
it became one of the mills of the Thomas Rice Paper Com- 
pany. For forty years the Rice mills made the paper for 
the Boston Evening Transcript. In the early years these 
mills produced about one ton of newspaper per day, having 
each a sixty-two-inch forming machine, four beating ma- 
chines, and fifty horse-power. Thomas Rice paid $16,500 
for the Wales & Mills plant and $22,000 for the mill long 
known as the Garfield mill. In 1868 the water-privileges 
were each assessed at $5000. The Honorable Thomas Rice 
was born in that part of Needham now Wellesley Hills. 
The Second Mill was taken down about 1893 by Robert 
Bishop. 

The Machine-shop, once an important industry, employing 
one hundred men, dates from 1832, when Reuben Ware and 
William Clark erected the building which was burned in 
1834. In 1846 the shop, which had been rebuilt, came into 
the possession of Joseph Stowe, and in 1850 Henry P. 
Eaton, Rufus Moulton and Harvey Eaton bought it; the 
latter died in 1852, and the shop was again burned in 1853 
and rebuilt. In 1854 Mr. Jordan joined with Messrs. 
Eaton and Moulton, and in 1855 the firm was Eaton, Moul- 
ton & Jordan, but the latter soon retired, and for years 
Eaton & Moulton were the only proprietors, until Adam 
Beck became their partner in 1858. Mr. Beck was the sole 
owner in 1876, and continued the business to his death in 
1905, although two of the buildings had been made into 
tenements. From i860 to 1862 the machine-shop appears 
to have been taxed to Lemuel Crehore, who long had inter- 
ests on both sides of the river. 

The Third Paper-mill at the Upper Dam was on the site 
of Benjamin Slack's fulling-mill, which he had sold in 1806 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 385 

to Peter Lyon, assigning to Mr. Lyon in 1807 a bond ob- 
tained In 1799 from Ephralm Jackson to let the water 
through and to raise the dam to a mark picked on a rock.^ 
This bond proved to be a personal one and not assignable, 
and in 1822 Mr. Lyon conveyed the property to William 
and Adolphus Durant of Newton. In 1831 William Durant, 
who had bought out his brother, Adolphus, or "Apolas", 
as the deed (1831) called him, sold the mill, "Raghouse", 
and all of the water-rights and privileges, to John L. Rice 
of Newton. The land was only one quarter acre, and there 
was a "coper house" on it. The price is not clear, but the 
largest mortgage on the property at any time prior to 1840, 
that of 1825, when the Durants bought the mill, was less 
than $4000. The same day that he bought the mill Mr. 
Rice conveyed an undivided half to Luther Crane, who 
sold it to Thomas Rice in 1835 for $4000.- John L. Rice 
died about 1834, and his brother, Thomas, and brother-in- 
law, Moses Garfield, took the mill, but the latter withdrew 
from the firm by 1840, when for a brief time Benjamin F. 
Martin succeeded him. For twenty years Thomas Rice 
was the sole owner of this mill, and did an important busi- 
ness until about 1867, when he sold the property to the 
Dudley Hosiery Company. The Evans Collar Company 
had occupied the building for a year, or more. 

' In November, 1799, Ephraim Jackson of Needham, "Miller", gave a bond 
of $2000 to Benjamin Slack, "Clothier ", to "convey water through the said Jack- 
sons damn near his Grist mill into the pond of the above named Benjamin Slacks 
fulling mill sufficient and for the purpose of carrying a paper mill or any other mill 
that may be erected near said pond ". Jackson was also "to build or caus'd to be 
built one half of a new Damn where the fulling mill damn now is" and to permit 
the fulling-mill "Damn" to be raised. In 1799 Peter Lyon was taxed for a paper- 
mill in Needham, in 1802 for one half of Ephraim Jackson's paper-mill, valued at 
$600, and in subsequent years for a paper-mill without other description. There 
was once a canal by Walnut Street, further east than that now used, but the mill 
owners nearer the dam appealed to the Court, and got it closed. 

^ This deed granted all of the real estate and the water-privileges conveyed to 
John L. Rice "and me" since August 10, 1831, by Benjamin Slack and A. C. & W. 
Curtis, except what Rice & Crane may have conveyed, meaning all that Rice & 
Crane had had at the time of Rice's death. Presumably Rice & Crane had ex- 
pended considerable money on the works, for when Mr. Crane bought the un- 
divided half the consideration was stated to be 



386 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In a mortgage of one of these mills In 1814 "the new dam 
acrofs the River" is referred to. 

William Hoogs is said to have built in 1790 the Second, 
or Lower, Dam, at the Lower Falls and to have soon after 
erected a paper-mill on the Newton side, which mill his son 
William sold in 1809 to Peter Lyon, and it was the prede- 
cessor of the mill of Augustus C. Wiswall & Son. The site 
is now (191 1) included in the Reservation. Apparently 
before he built this paper-mill Mr. Hoogs had a tannery 
near the ford below Pratt's Bridge, and presumably on the 
Newton side. In 1794 Edward Jackson of Newton deeded 
for £200 "one undivided moiety of y® stream which runs 
through y- s- Land", and a paper-mill, to Francis Wright 
and Joseph Greene of Boston, "Merchants". The land 
bounded on the "County Road Bridge", and was the other 
half of that conveyed by Mr. Jackson to William Hoogs, 
for £100 on August 5, 1793, and which they In turn had the 
same day granted to Messrs. Wright and Greene, who 
executed articles of agreement "to build & erect a set of 
paper works in Needham". The deed to Wright and Greene 
from Jackson and Hoogs refers to the "back water dam In 
the river", and recites "Together with the exclusive right 
of the stream for the recting of a Paper mill to be owned 
by the Grantors, together with the Grantees & Stephen 
Crane of Watertown". The grantees were to have one 
quarter, and Messrs. Crane, Wright and Greene each one 
quarter, but Mr. Crane acquired only one eighth, which he 
sold In 1796 to Messrs. Wright and Greene for $500. There 
were then buildings on the land, including a paper-mill. 
Jackson and Hoogs had been allowed £200 on the expense 
of building as they had furnished the land. In 1809 William 
Hoogs bought of Mr. Wright four forty eighths, of Russell 
Sturgis sixteen forty eighths, and of Joseph Greene, or his 
estate, twenty-one forty eighths for $3333.33, all the inter- 
est that these Boston men had In the land and paper-mill. 
Mr. Hoogs was already the owner of seven forty eighths. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 387 

Apparently Mr. Greene was dead in 1803, when Francis 
Hoogs discharged the obligations under a bond for $6423, 
which William Hoogs, the elder, who was not living in 1802, 
had given to Messrs. Wright, Sturgis and Greene in 1800. 
In 1799 Dea. Francis Wright & Co. were taxed for one half 
of a paper-mill in West Needham, and their interest was 
valued at $939, which was doubtless a nominal appraisal. 
In 181 1 the Hoogs paper-mill was owned by Samuel Brown 
of Needham, who had been a creditor of Mr. Hoogs. In 
1816 Mr. Brown sold it, together with "moulds felts & all 
other utensials",for $4000 to Artemas Murdock of Needham, 
who in 1 81 8 deeded the property to Charles Rice at a large 
advance in the consideration. 

In 1835 Gen. Charles Rice conveyed this paper-mill on 
the Needham side, with a dry-house and out-buildings, to 
Parker H. Pierce of Boston, who had acquired one of the 
two mortgages then on the property. Joseph Greenwood 
and Paul Dewing succeeded General Rice, but the latter 
retired in a few years, and about 1847 Mr. Greenwood 
sold the plant to Benjamin Farlis, who was from Salem. 
In 1 85 1 this mill was owned and operated by Allen C. 
Curtis, the well-known papermaker, under the firm name 
of A. C. Curtis & Son, and they sold it during the Civil 
War to Thurston Priest, who had a paper-mill at Water- 
town. In 1866 it was taxed to Joseph G. Loring and William 
B. Newbery of Boston, and for a time Loring & Co. made 
paper from Esparto grass, but the mill was burned, and the 
privilege and remaining buildings were bought by Binney 
& Co., who had a fire in 1868, when the plant was known as 
Binney's Mill. In 1870 and 1871 the property was assessed 
to the Boston Belting Company, but was not used by them, 
and it was sold to Charles Francis of Brookline, who built 
a mill. As early as 1874 the establishment was owned by 
Richard T. Sullivan, who erected several buildings on the 
premises, and for many years he and his representatives 
have manufactured "shoddy", or carbonized wool there. 



388 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The older paper-mills on this site made about one ton per 
day each. 

In the later decades of the nineteenth century Billings, 
Clapp & Company had their chemical works where is now 
the mica plant, which is west of the R. T. Sullivan Company's 
mill. 

In Norfolk County alone there are on record at least 
one hundred deeds and mortgages affecting these mills at 
the Lower Falls,, and the writer has devoted much time to 
examining the earlier ones. There were many real estate 
transactions in the vicinity of the mills by Edward Jackson, 
and by different individuals who bore the name of Ephraim 
Jackson, beginning with Colonel Ephraim, the tavern- 
keeper at the Lower Falls, who died in the army in 1777. 

Below the Upper Dam the fall of the water is sixteen 
feet on the Newton side, and ten on the Needham side, 
with the exception of a place near the Third Mill, where 
it is but six feet. 

On the brook in the ravine, which is northwest of Saint 
John's Church, and near the Lower Falls, preliminary steps 
were taken prior to 1850 to establish an industry, and a 
dike and a canal were constructed, perhaps also a building. 
This enterprise was not a success, but as early as 1851 
Henry Wood started here the manufacture of mineral paint, 
and, it is said, began also to make bricks from Portland 
cement and sand with a mixture of lime, an Industry con- 
tinued by him and his successors for many years, but even- 
tually given up. These paint works were among the few of 
that kind then existing, but before i860 were burned by an 
incendiary, it was supposed, and Mr. Wood resumed business 
on Natick Brook, where an important and extensive manu- 
factory flourishes in the present century, under the control of 
Mr. Wood's successors, Henry Wood's Sons Company.^ 

* Its letter-head in 191 1 describes it as "Makers of Fine Colors", and states 
that its business was "Established 1837 by Henry Wood". The present Henry 
Wood of this company is a son of Edmund M. Wood. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 389 

When Mr. Wood retired in 1866, his son, Edmund M. 
Wood, formed a co-partnership with Horace Humphrey, 
and in the early eighties they made about six tons of paint 
per day. In 1873 there had been a fire at their paint-shop 
to which Natick firemen were summoned. At one time they 
are said to have made utensils from copper and tin plate 
at their paint-factory. 

Edmund M. Wood was connected with various enter- 
prises, including the Middlesex Stone Brick Company, 
and was the proprietor of the great Waban Conservatories, 
which are situated on one of the ancient Goodenow farms, 
in what was Needham Leg. These conservatories are noted 
abroad, as well as in this country, for the large number of 
huge greenhouses devoted entirely to roses, and there are 
few, if any, rose conservatories in the world that rival these 
in size. Mr. Wood died in Natick in 1901. 

After the loss of the paint-shop, and the removal of Mr. 
Wood, General Charles Rice built there a grist-mill and a 
planing-mill, which were carried on by his son Charles, who 
also erected a paint-shop about fifteen feet from the mills. 
This shop was leased for a number of years to Hanchett 
& Morse, paintmakers, but the two mills and shop were 
burned completely; it was thought that the fire was incen- 
diary. Charles Rice, Jr., had a deed of this property from 
his father about i860, and built the present large shop, 
which he rented to Farwell & Conant for a silk-factory, 
and for seven years spool silk was made there. Isaac 
Farwell removed to Newton, and Mr. Rice subsequently 
leased the building for various purposes. In 1870 Charles 
Rice, Jr., was assessed on $2400 for two acres of privilege 
and a silk-factory. 

LONGFELLOW'S MILL 

In 1836 Isaac Keyes of Needham sold to Zenas and Luther 
Crane of Newton, "Papermakers ", one and one quarter 
acres of land on the Worcester Turnpike, with a paper- 



390 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

mill. Mr. Keyes also granted permission to raise the dam 
two feet higher, and to flow his land above it. In 1847 
Rebekah Crane "of the Village of the Lower Falls in New- 
ton", administratrix of the estate of Zenas Crane, sold an 
undivided half of this property at auction, and it was bought 
by Nathan Longfellow for $1100, who at the same time 
acquired the other half of Luther Crane at the same price. 
This mill stood at the northwesterly end of Longfellow's 
Pond, and for years Mr. Longfellow did a fair business 
there, but the old building was burned in 1870. 

On Natick Brook the "Praying Indians" had a sawmill 
in 1658, but it was destroyed by the white men during 
King PhiHp's War, and the saws were taken to Sudbury; 
the pond was known as "y^ sawmill pond". This sawmill 
on Natick Brook is said to have been the first in Eastern 
Massachusetts, not including the District of Maine. 

The Henry Wood's Sons' paint-works have been referred 
to. Eighty years since Daniel Morse had his grist-mill 
on this brook, and earlier Thomas Broad ran a sawmill at 
or near the same place. Mr. Wood bought the privilege 
and mill of Mr. Morse. 

Within the territory granted to Edward Hawes in 1661, 
and formerly called "Hawes Hundred", there was nearly 
two centuries ago a mill on the stream once known as Hawes 
Brook, which brook connects Morse's and Nonsuch Ponds. 
About 1725 this mill came into the possession of the Loker 
family, who were inhabitants of Needham for several gen- 
erations. In 183 1 there was a mill on this site, and it is 
possible that Otis Jennings made paper there in 1834, 
when he was taxed for paper-mill stock. 

For some years before and after the division of the town, 
James Tucker & Co. had a shoe-factory of considerable 
size at the corner of Washington and Cottage Streets in 
Wellesley, but the prevailing sentiment of the people of 
Wellesley did not favor an industry of that kind, and the 
factory was purchased by Mr. H. H. Hunnewell and Mrs. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 391 

Durant and given to the College for a dormitory, and is 
known as "The Eliot". 

MILL AT CHARLES RIVER VILLAGE 

This beautiful and valuable water-privilege has been 
more often availed of by lessees than by owners. Jesse 
Lyon, a Mr. Daniell and Moses Grant were early proprie- 
tors of a paper-mill here, but were not the first ones, as there 
was a paper-mill, or mills, in the south part of the town in 
1796. From 1826 to 1840 John Welles was taxed for 
this property, together with the Ambler house, except in 
183 1-9, when Josiah Newell, who ran the paper-mill, or 
his assignees, were the nominal owners. In 1842 and 1843 
Barden & Newell were assessed for this mill, and from 1844 
to 1846 Benjamin Newell alone. Mr. Newell was for years 
a paper-manufacturer, but from 1849 to 1852 the plant 
was owned by Otis Pettee. 

Christopher Hancks was designated in deeds as a "Paper- 
maker" from 1 8 16 to 1835, and Benjamin Newell was 
succeeded by Hancks & Hagar, and they, prior to the Civil 
War, by Goss & Russell, who were lessees from H. H. Hunne- 
well and others, trustees. Apparently William L. Ward 
purchased this mill about 1862, and made shoddy. He 
was soon followed by Porter & Lancey, in whose time the 
mill was burned, together with a small house erected within 
the mill-grounds by Mr. Ward. All of the foregoing made 
coarse wrapping paper, but William Hill & Son, who had 
a small paper-mill on the Dover side, bought from the 
mortgagees the privilege on the Needham side, built a mill 
there and made Manilla paper in the early seventies. In 
1877 Eugene H. Sampson had acquired the plant, and 
named it the Waban Mills. He made leather-board for 
ten years, when he sold out to Edwin Hill, who expended 
$15,000 for an equipment to make bookpaper, including 
a Fourdrinier machine eighty feet long. After six years 
the cost of freight on the wood used for pulp led Mr. Hill 



392 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and his sons to retire from the business, and in 1892 Frank 
H. Brown purchased the property of Mr. Hill. In 1893 
the mill was burned, and for some years Mr. Brown grad- 
ually replaced the buildings intending to make paper. 

Upward of half a century ago there was a nail-factory 
near the river, east of the paper-mill, and within the grounds 
of the mill. 

Dr. Noyes noted in his diary "Building the Dam C. 
River", September 2, 1828, and "Breach made in Dam at 
Dover Iron Works", September 23, 1832. 

More than a century ago supplying poles for barrel- 
hoops and faggots for the bakers of Roxbury and Boston 
formed such a considerable industry in Needham that the 
faggots came to be known as Needham Currency, and, 
judging by some old accounts, were bartered for goods, 
New England rum representing an undue per cent of the 
trade. The manufacture of glue was introduced into Need- 
ham by Robert Evans, who lived on the O'Neil place, at 
the corner of Rosemary Street, near Nehoiden Street. He 
had as apprentices John Mills and Allen Fisher, and did 
not intend that they should learn the whole process of mak- 
ing glue, but they did acquire the knowledge, owing to 
certain complications, and Mr. Mills became a successful 
manufacturer on a larger scale than Mr. Evans, whose shop 
was also his dwelling. Mr. Mills for many years made glue 
in his shops on Great Plain Avenue, nearly opposite the 
old Mills place, and acquired a fortune. His brother, 
Matthias, had shops in the rear of his house on Central 
Avenue, and later purchased John's and made glue in them 
until into the seventies. In 1872 four nephews of John and 
Matthias Mills, associating with them for a few months 
their brother-in-law, Timothy Otis Fuller, built two shops 
a short distance west of the older ones, and for several 
years manufactured glue. They found, however, that the 
conditions had changed from the older time, and that there 
was great difficulty in getting the stock, which once was 



I 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 393 

abundant and cost but little more than the expense of 
transporting it a few miles; moreover competition with 
large concerns was ruinous. The business involved night- 
work, which did not add to its attractions. Galen Orr and 
his brother Thomas made glue in shops off of Great Plain 
Avenue, about half a mile west from the railroad track, 
and Nathan Mcintosh produced some on the premises 
where his home was. Lemuel Kingsbury had glue shops 
on Great Plain Avenue, about half a mile east of the rail- 
road, and Otis and J. Willard Morton had a glue plant 
north of Rosemary Street, and not far from the railroad, 
but the best days of these glue industries were prior to the 
Civil War, and few of them survived to 1870, although the 
shops remained for many years. The glue shops were all 
in East Needham, and that part of the town was also en- 
gaged in the manufacture of hats, and in 183 1 there were 
three small hat-factories, — Lemuel Lyon's was about 
where the boiler rooms of the Lower Mill of the William 
Carter Company are now. William G. Jones had a hat- 
shop on Central Avenue, and between the Lyon houses 
on Greendale Avenue, near Lyon's Bridge, was the hat- 
shop of Joshua B. Lyon. Hats, however, do not appear to 
have been made in Needham much after 1850, although 
William Bennett is designated as a hatter in 1853. Appar- 
ently Mr. Jones's place of business was in the old "Bake 
Shop", which was built by Rufus Mills in the thirties. Mr. 
Mills was a baker but a short time, and the building was 
for many years a dwelling. 

About 1830 Michael Mcintosh bought the property where 
the hinge-factory is. The dam was then known as the Amos 
Fuller Dam, and there was a dilapidated sawmill, which 
Mr. Mcintosh ran for two winters, and did a considerable 
business, as the accumulation of logs and lumber on the 
premises testified. He paid the Rev. William Ritchie 
$500 for this water-privilege and land, rebuilt the dam In a 
substantial manner, put In a flume, and blasted a ledge 



394 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

for the pit and raceway, which was for a twelve-foot water- 
wheel, with six buckets. He also had another wheel "in 
the same race way 40 feet with two feet buckets these two 
wheels, and steam engine were burnt with the buildings". 
There was a fall of about twenty feet where the first wheel 
was. Mr. Mcintosh, who was a skilful machinist, black- 
smith, moulder, pattern-maker and inventor, had pre- 
viously had a shop on Great Plain Avenue, west of the 
residence of the late George C. M<=Intosh, where he carried 
on the business of a country blacksmith, besides making 
blind-hinges. The need of motive power led him to pur- 
chase the water-privilege, and after he moved to his new 
site his business rapidly increased, requiring additions to 
the plant until there were nine roofs. He continued to make 
hinges and fastenings, and also had a sash and blind-shop, 
which stood where the west end of the present hinge-fac- 
tory is, but was much larger, and was equipped with the 
most improved machinery valued at $5000. Here for some 
years an average of four hundred sashes per day were made, 
except in the warm weather, and one year Mr. M'^Intosh 
had a contract to furnish the sashes and blinds for one 
hundred brick houses that were built in Boston. Mr. 
Joseph Fisher, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Josiah Noyes, was 
Mr. Mcintosh's principal man, and was a first-rate me- 
chanic who could make machinery. In 1840 [1841?] the 
entire property was destroyed by fire, and no insurance was 
received because of the introduction of a steam-boiler with- 
out permission. There was certainly a fire at Michael 
Macintosh's mill in 1841, as on November 29 of that year 
a selectmen's order was drawn to pay $2.97 for refresh- 
ments supplied to the firemen on that occasion. Edward 
A. Mills remembers seeing the firemen from the Upper 
Falls hastening to this fire, and says he was much impressed 
by their red shirts. Mr. Henry Michael Mcintosh, who 
was eighty years old in 1907, when he furnished the fore- 
going information as to his father's business career, stated 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 395 

that he did not remember when the new dam was built, 
but did "recollect some gravel was added to the dam and 
a new sluice way was made at the east end of the pond to 
carry off the excess of water. It used to be so that all the 
water could be drawn out of the pond and leaving but the 
brook, but some water was always left on account of the 
fish". Michael M'^Intosh owned the Kingsbury-Rollins 
place, and had in all about sixty acres bordering on the 
ponds. His son said that the ponds were very high in cer- 
tain seasons, and flowage damages had to be considered 
then, as in Mr. Orr's time. "The small pond next to the 
hinge factory is not as wide as it was". "On Father's side 
he filled up and made a wall to the water line, and made a 
garden of that part. Previous to 1840 Mr. Luther Morse's 
blacksmith's shop stood mostly on piles over the end of the 
South corner of the small pond up to the road. On the 
opposite side of the road from Mr. Morse's shop was the 
large pond, and there were no buildings, the space of land 
between road and water belonged to Father; it was land 
east side, water west side, and he bought the land of Mr. 
Ritchie so as not to pay flowing damages". (Letter of 
Henry M. M'^Intosh of September 26, 1907.) Mr. M<=In- 
tosh also sent to the writer an interesting plan he drew of 
his father's manufactory, including the immediate vicinity. 
He died March 13, 1908, aged eighty years, seven months 
and fifteen days. The sash and blind-shop, which was 
taller than the present building, was plainly seen from 
Neholden Street, but the other portions of the plant were 
farther to the east and north, and were conspicuous from 
Rosemary Street. About 1836 Mr. M'^Intosh had located 
a grist-mill at the Amos Fuller Dam, and had obtained 
large granite mill-stones from Salem, but lack of water led 
him to abandon this business. About 1835 he had peti- 
tioned the General Court for permission to build a reser- 
voir between the hills, southeast of the George C. Mcin- 
tosh ice-pond, and to draw water from Pine Swamp for 



396 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

his mill-pond by means of a ditch, which was to run nearly 
parallel with Great Plain Avenue, and to cross the road 
near where the Daniel Kingsbury barn stood. He stated 
that this would lower the water about six feet in the swamp, 
and redeem many acres of land, but the opposition of the 
mill-owners on Charles River was fatal, and Mr. Mcintosh 
had leave to withdraw his petition. 

The blacksmith's shop, referred to by Mr. H. M. M'^In- 
tosh, was moved to the south side of the road, and about 
1837 Isaac H. Greenwood built another shop adjoining the 
Luther Morse shop on the south. For many years Mr. 
Greenwood followed his calling as a blacksmith on this 
site, and in the early seventies John H. Fitzgerald became 
his associate, and later his successor, remaining in the old 
shop until about 1900, when he removed to a larger estab- 
lishment on Chapel Street. Mr. Fitzgerald took down the 
Morse shop manyyears ago, and the Greenwood shop in 1906. 

In 1844 Galen Orr acquired the M'^Intosh water-power, 
together with five acres of land, with buildings thereon, 
extending to the junction of Nehoiden and Rosemary Streets, 
and also two acres on the other side of Nehoiden Street, 
opposite the larger parcel. He built some shops, and for 
many years carried on a successful business as a manu- 
facturer of blind-hinges and fastenings. In 1872 he asso- 
ciated with him his son-in-law, Edgar H. Bowers, under 
the firm name of Galen Orr & Co. Mr. Orr died in 1881, 
and Mr. Bowers has continued the industry. Mr. Orr 
was one of the most enterprising citizens of Needham, and 
in his youth had learned the business, or trade, of a nail- 
maker, working, it is said, in the nail-factory at Charles 
River Village. From 1839 to 1844 he made hinges on forges, 
at home, on Central Avenue in the house which he sold to 
the Rev. Mr. Maynard in 1844. Atone time Mr. Orr had 
a grocery store in the Nehoiden Block, then sometimes 
called the Revere Block, as it was built by Mr. Revere 
in 1844, and owned by him for twenty-five years. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 397 

Lemuel Lyon built the dam at the northwest end of Rose- 
mary Pond, which owes its origin to this dam, and to 
excavations made by Mr. Lyon, who for a year employed 
John O'Neil, with a horse and cart, to remove land from 
one side-hill, and gravel from another. The Honorable 
Enos H. Tucker stated that in his youth he worked digging 
out this basin. Henry M. Mcintosh said he well remembered 
when the place was an alder swamp and Dewing's peat- 
meadow, and recalled a road by Dewing's Hill. Although 
a part of Rosemary Brook, it is not strange that for some 
years the pond was known as Lyon's Pond. Mr. Lyon 
built a small mill, and did business under the firm name of 
Lyon & Hersey. Their chief industry was the manufacture 
of huge beaver-hats, with bell-shaped crowns, large rims, 
and covered with long hair. One of these hats was in the 
possession of the late Dr. Noyes at the time of his decease, 
and Leon Divoll is said to have been a skilled hat-maker in 
the employ of Mr. Lyon. The Lyon mill was burned and 
rebuilt, and before 1850 had become the silk-mill of Lemuel 
Cobb, who was from Dedham, and who had some mulberry 
trees and silk-worms.^ In 185 1 Galen Orr acquired the 
property succeeding Robert Prentiss, who made batting, 
and for some six years had a cotton-batting-mill, known 
as the Rosemary Brook Batting Mill. Later he sold the 
machinery, and In i860 had a grist-mill there, dealing in 
flour. This business he continued for several years, and 
Charles A. Hines, better remembered as the veteran grave- 
digger, was Mr. Orr's miller. Apparently Mr. Orr retained 
some of the batting until the Civil War, as he then supplied 
the women of Needham with it, and they prepared It for 

1 At the time that Mr. Cobb started his silk-mill it was thought that a new 
industry of importance had come to town, and some people, particularly the 
women, were zealous in setting out mulberry trees in order to feed the silk-worms, 
anticipating employment, but were disappointed, although the trees remained for 
many years. There are, or were a few years since, mulberry trees that Mr. Cobb 
set out near his mill. He was followed by Messenger Brothers in the business of 
winding silk, and they in turn for a time by Rufus Haven Mills and Dexter Town- 
send Mills. 



398 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the use of the soldiers, particularly for the hospital service. 
Beginning with 1857 he had for a year and a half engaged 
with Thaddeus Bullen of Haverhill in the manufacture of 
tacks and iinishing-nails in the former batting-mill, but it 
was not a success. In 1864 Mr. Orr sold this property to 
George and Edward Smith Ashwell for $3000. It then 
included the dam, mill-privilege, one half acre of land, and 
"Also the right to raise water by means of said dam to the 
height of the top of a copper bolt, driven into a hole drilled 
in a rock in the race way of the upper mill privilege of said 
Orr and to flow all lands which will be flowed by a pond 
raised to that height". Another half acre of land near 
had been purchased by Mr. Orr of Warren Dewing, and was 
also conveyed by this deed. 

George Ashwell, who lived in Needham, soon became 
the sole owner, and in 1866 he deeded the plant to Isaac A. 
Hatch of Boston, to George Ashwell (the grantor) and to 
David A. Andrews, as co-partners under the name of Hatch, 
Ashwell & Co. This firm erected a new mill, adjoining the 
old batting-mill, and transferred their title to the Ashwell 
Manufacturing Company, which engaged in the manu- 
facture of hosiery and jackets, chiefly the former. The 
old mill is referred to in deeds as "Orr's lower mill". From 
1868 to 1874 the building was occupied by Samuel Sutton 
& Co., manufacturers of hosiery, and also of yarn, including 
Merino. They gave employment to one hundred persons, 
as they had other hosiery establishments in Needham. 

Mr. Sutton was an experienced and wealthy manufacturer, 
and his two older sons were in partnership with him, Thomas 
Sutton having an interest in the business before he was 
eighteen years old. Samuel Sutton is said to have been the 
pioneer in Needham in the employment of power machinery 
tor making hosiery. At first the legs only were made by 
power, then later also the feet. The goods had to be 
sewed. 

Mr. Sutton was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire, February 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 399 

24, 181 2, came to America in 1833, and died in Needham 
June 6, 1897. 

From 1868 to 1874 this building also continued the mill 
of Isaac A. Hatch & Co., who had the two upper floors 
during the time that Samuel Sutton & Co. had the lower 
floors. From 1874 to 1879 the former company had the 
whole plant, and made hosiery and some jackets. In 1880 
William Claflin and others as trustees owned this property, 
and about 1883 it came into the possession of Richard T. 
Sullivan, who made blankets there for a brief period.^ From 
1884 to 1887 the plant was owned by the Keeler Manu- 
facturing Company, who made a high grade of what is tech- 
nically known as cut, or flat, underwear, employing upward 
of one hundred persons. In 1888 William Carter bought 
the mill, with other property, at a bargain, and leased it 
to the Union Cycle Company, which company increased 
the size of the building, and did a large business in the 
manufacture of bicycles. About 1902 the plant became 
Mill No. 2, or the Lower Mill, of the William Carter Com- 
pany, which transferred all of its machinery to this mill. 

Notwithstanding the traditional "Old Indian Curse" 
resting on this valley, the industry now located there ap- 
pears to be entirely successful. 

Before the Lyon dam was built there was a small one at 
what is now the south end of the large pond, where the 
water flows in from the hinge-factory pond, and there was 
a building in which an Englishman, named Townsend, had 
two carding machines for making woolen rolls. Henry M. 
M'^Intosh said that he saw the machines in operation, and 
that after the Lyon mill was burned Mr. Lyon built a small 
dam near the one that Mr. Townsend had, and a canal 
was made along the side-hill extending several hundred 
feet to a building subsequently finished into a dwelling- 
house. There was no water-wheel on this canal, and later 
it was filled up. 

^ It is said that before Mr. Sullivan had this mill shoddy was made there. 



400 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The extensive greenhouses of Denys Zirngiebel, formerly 
of the Botanic Gardens of Harvard University, have been 
located in Needham for forty years, or more, and are justly 
noted for rare and beautiful flowers. In 1868 James Cart- 
wright had greenhouses on Cartwright Street in what is 
now Wellesley, and his family has continued in the business, 
both in Needham and Wellesley, to the present time (191 1). 
Prior to the Civil War James Cartwright had been a grower 
of fine vegetables in Needham. 

Arthur Whitaker for a number of years supplied Marston's 
restaurants with sweet corn, and was described in the news- 
papers as the " Corn King of New England ". In September, 
1903, he sent to Boston, by his own teams, three hundred 
bushels per day, and is said to have had ninety acres in 
sweet corn, but apparently the acreage was nearer seventy- 
iive. Mr. Whitaker was an enterprising man, and for more 
than twenty years the Hillside Farm, as he called his estate, 
was widely and favorably known, and its herd of cows, 
about forty in number, was a credit to its owner. He died 
in 1906, while in the prime of life. 

John T. Wye made "Ladies'" Scotch gloves in Leicester, 
England, and came to Needham in the early eighties. His 
sons, William H. and George E., did business on a small 
scale for some years, and then built a factory on Pleasant 
Street, on the Great Plain, and established an important 
industry. They made "Ladies'" mittens, and for a time 
silk gloves. It has been said that Robert G. and William 
Roper, while in the employ of the Wye Brothers, made 
athletic goods on a hand-frame, outside of the regular work- 
ing hours, and that in this way the Wyes were led to make 
a variety of athletic goods, including sweaters and aquatic 
garments. About 1900 the firm of Wye Brothers dissolved, 
and William H. built a factory on Highland Avenue, where 
he has since continued the manufacture of aquatic and ath- 
letic garments, employing forty, or more, persons. His 
eldest son, William H. Wye, Jr., is associated with him in 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 401 

business. George E. Wye incorporated his Industry as the 
George E. Wye Company, and makes the same kind of 
goods as his brother, giving occupation to about forty people. 
The "Great Dane" sweaters are made by this company. 
John J. Wye, another son of John T., made gloves on one 
of the hand-frames, such as were In common use as late 
as 1894, but now makes sweater coats. 

Needham had Its share of small shoe-shops, usually by the 
roadside, where shoes already cut out were brought to be 
soled and heeled by men whose other occupations were 
varied, many of them being farmers. There were perhaps 
a dozen of these shops in town, but In 1907 Needham and 
Wellesley did not contain more than four of them, all then 
used for other purposes than shoemaking. The shop on 
Blossom Street, where Isaac Flagg for many years cobbled 
shoes, passed the residence of the writer on September 18, 
1903, on Its way to a new site, where it was to be used, 
but not as a shoe-shop. After Mr. Flagg ceased to work 
on shoes It had continued to be the shop of a shoemaker 
until a short time before Its removal. Some work was done 
in these small shoe-shops as late as the seventies, and the 
Rimmele Brothers continued the business for many years 
subsequent to 1870. About the time that the railroad came 
through East Needham, Charles E. Keith engaged in the 
manufacture of heavy shoes, employing a number of men, 
and for years carried on the business in Keith's Block, which 
formerly stood where the Kingsbury Block is now. The 
Keith building has been moved at least twice, and now 
fronts on Chestnut Street. Stephen F. Harvey was a con- 
temporary and associate of Mr. Keith In the making of 
shoes. The firm was Keith Brothers & Co. In 1857. In 
1856 shoes were made, or put together. In the Nehoiden 
Block by George B. Revere. 

In 191 1 the William Bourne and Son Piano Company 
are building a factory on Highland Avenue, intending to re- 
move their long-established business to Needham. Charles 



402 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

E. Bourne has been a citizen of this town for twelve or 
thirteen years, and owns the Bourne Building, formerly 
the May Building, which is the principal business block in 
Needham. 

INDUSTRIES OF NEEDHAM HEIGHTS 

This portion of the town, although its natural advantages 
are greater than in other sections, owes its settlement and 
growth chiefly to its industries. Jonathan Avery, who was 
instrumental in bringing the knit-goods business to Needham, 
died April 19, 1875, aged sixty-eight years, nine months and 
seven days, and had then witnessed a development which 
probably exceeded his expectations. The village of High- 
landville, as it was called for fifty years, is situated upon a 
high plateau commanding fine views, and has an excellent 
record for its healthfulness. As early as 1900 there was a 
disposition to change the name, and an attempt was made 
to call it Needham Highlands, but this was obviously 
impracticable with Newton Highlands within five miles. 
After consideration a change became popular, and on May 
28, 1907, the name of the post-office became Needham 
Heights, and by the following November the name of the 
railroad station conformed to that of the post-office. Never 
was so important a transformation made more easily or more 
completely, or with less opposition, and in a brief time the 
name which for half a century had been familiar was pass- 
ing into oblivion. 

It is now more than sixty years since English people 
began to locate in Needham, and many of the best citizens 
of the town have been, and are, of English birth. Within 
twenty years the appearance and speech of many of the 
people were characteristic of their earlier homes, and when 
the writer was a youth, Highlandville was decidedly Eng- 
lish, and yet in 191 1 it is only in the speech of a few of the 
older inhabitants that Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire is 
suggested. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 403 

John Turner came to Needham prior to 1833,^ and lived 
for many years on what is still known as the " Turner 
Place ", at the junction of Brookside Road and Oakland 
Street. In the late forties and early fifties he gave em- 
ployment to a number of his countrymen in making knit- 
goods in a shop near his house, and was one of the first 
to engage in this industry in Needham. He died in 1854, 
but in 1856 there were several English families living on 
Brookside Road, either at the Turner place or not far 
from it. 

WiUiam Freeman came to Needham from England In 
1848, and a year or two later located near Mr. Turner, 
and was one of the first knitters in town; his descendants 
are numerous and well known. 

The Beless family came to Needham in 1852, from Lough- 
borough, Leicestershire, and in 1856 the brothers James, 
Thomas and John had already made their homes at what 
is now Needham Heights. James and Thomas were then 
partners, and made gloves, stockings and some jackets. 
Their brother John was similarly employed, and all three 
lived on High Street. As early as the Civil War, if not before, 
the Belesses also made underwear, and were the pioneers 
in this line of goods, which now made on a large scale, and 
by different methods, forms the principal industry of the 
town. The Beless family when they first came to Needham 
occupied the small house at the corner of Greendale Avenue 
and High Street, and have always been respected citizens. 

Gloves and stockings stretched on boards to dry were 
a familiar sight about town until after 1880, and all of the 
work was done on hand-frames. With few exceptions the 
English people who came to Needham were engaged in the 
knit-goods industry, and small shops containing one or 

1 Mr. Turner of Newton, who was seventy-four years old in 1909, then stated 
that his grandfather, John Turner, came to Needham as a weaver in 1825, first 
living in the ancient Ware house, now owned by Mr. Sheridan, and that John 
Turner, Jr., lived on the Floyd place. Edwin Turner, another son of John, was the 
father of the informant, and resided on Cedar Street seventy years ago. 



404 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

more frames were to be seen throughout the eastern part 
of the town, principally in Highlandville. These shops 
were also numerous about the old Centre, but rare in the 
South section. 

THE WILLIAM CARTER COMPANY 

The William Carter Company, formerly the firm of Wil- 
liam Carter and Company, has long conducted the most 
important industry in town, and its development repre- 
sents the results of more than thirty years of energy and 
enterprise. Mr. William Carter, the founder of this busi- 
ness, has made a great variety of knit-goods at different 
periods, but for years the children's underwear, and the 
union suits for all ages, have been extensively advertised, 
and favorably known throughout the United States. The 
treasurer of one of the largest mills in New England when 
asked what he knew of the William Carter Company re- 
plied: "I know that they [meaning the Carters] make as 
high a grade of goods as are made in this country, and that 
they keep up their standard. That is their reputation". 
The plant of this company has been repeatedly Increased 
in size, and no expense has been spared to procure the best 
machinery that is made, even when it is necessary to import 
together with the machine a man to run It or to care for 
it. In 1880 Mr. Carter had machinery, and In the eighties 
and nineties manufactured "Hosiery and Fancy Knit 
Goods." The Lower Mill has been referred to, and In 1909 
a further addition was made to the company's means of 
production by the purchase of the Springfield Knitting 
Mill, a four-story brick structure, in Springfield, Massachu- 
setts. A portion of this mill had been used for the manu- 
facture of yarn, and the rest of it for knit-goods of a coarser 
quality. It was equipped with two thousand spindles, and 
gave employment to about two hundred and fifty persons. 
William Carter has no less than five sons associated with 
him in making knit-goods, but William H. and Horace A. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 405 

have the chief responsibility. The number of persons 
employed at the mills in Needham is between three and 
four hundred. In addition to much advertising, Including 
some of the best magazines, the company have agents in 
different cities, and to some of them considerable salaries 
are paid. William Carter was born in Alfreton, Derby- 
shire, England, and arrived in America on January 28, 
1857, the fiftieth anniversary of which event was duly 
observed by a large reception which he gave in the town 
hall. Mr. Carter often visits his birthplace in the summer 
season, and has appropriately named the new street on 
which his mansion in Needham Heights is located, Alfreton 
Road. 

Mark Lee, who was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, Febru- 
ary 27, 1829, came to Needham In 1853, and for a year lived 
on the Turner place near the junction of Oakland Avenue 
and Brookside Road. In 1856 Mr. Lee with his brother, 
John, who for many years has been a manufacturer in New 
Brunswick, N. J., made gloves in a small building, now a 
dwelling-house, on Hunnewell Street. In 1864 they built 
the older portion of the large factory now Mill No. i of the 
William Carter Company, and in 1869 William Carter 
became a member of the firm then Lee, Carter & Co. Mark 
Lee retired from the company in 1875, ^^^ Mr. Carter 
continued the business alone. Mr. Lee invented a machine 
for testing the strength and tension of yarn, another for 
putting striped colors into stockings, and when he was post- 
master at HIghlandville he patented a double postal card, 
which attracted the attention of the postal authorities, but 
which was not adopted. In the eighties Mr. Lee was super- 
intendent of a mill at Laconia, N. H. He died January 12, 
1890, and his portrait hangs on the wall of the selectmen's 
office, and there is also one in the town report for 1889. 
Among the offices held by Mr. Lee was that of member of 
the board of health 1887-90. 

Lee, Carter & Co. made hosiery, some cardigan jackets, 



4o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and gloves, and had less than one hundred employees, 
mostly men. Mr. Carter had manufactured cardigan jackets 
before he became a member of this firm. 

Alexander Lynes, a man of sterling integrity and worth, 
was born in Leicester, England, and came to Needham 
during the Civil War, and died in this town January 2, 
1897, aged seventy-one years, four months and fifteen days. 
For many years he made hosiery, also cardigan jackets, 
gloves and underwear, at one time employing over one 
hundred men. About 1886 he introduced power machinery, 
having used the old hand-frames exclusively till then, and 
was the first in Needham to make children's underwear. 
It is said that he continued to employ some hand-frames 
as long as he was in business. In the early nineties Mr. 
Lynes retired, and his factory off Hunnewell Street was 
purchased by John F. Brooks, later the head of the John 
F. Brooks Company, who continued the manufacture of 
children's underwear, having at times seventy-five employ- 
ees. A brick wing has been added to the factory on the 
south. 

The Thorpe family were from Sutton in Ashfield, Notting- 
hamshire, and came to Needham soon after the close of 
the Civil War. About 1883 Joseph B, and John Thorpe 
engaged in business for themselves, and were the first in 
town to make "ladies'" full-fashioned mittens, which 
required less sewing than the earlier gloves known as cut 
work. John Thorpe is to be credited with having person- 
ally made the first silk mittens that were made in Needham. 
They continued together for a year, or more, and then 
made extra fine silk and Merino mittens independently of 
each other. In the late eighties John Thorpe also manu- 
factured some hosiery, caps, etc. at his shop on West Street. 
Both were makers of "ladies'" silk mittens, and were the 
only manufacturers of "Ladies' Silk Goods" in town, or 
of any other distinctly silk goods. Both made "ladies'" 
silk hosiery, as well as mittens. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 407 

The factory of Joseph B. Thorpe, on High Street, dates 
from 1893, and has been twice enlarged. He followed Mr. 
Lynes in making children's underwear, which has continued 
his principal product. 

In the late seventies Robert Shaw and his son, Herbert, 
had a factory where Christ Church is now, and had a patent 
on glove machinery. Prior to 1880 John and Thomas 
Scotton made hosiery in a shop at the corner of Hillside 
Avenue and Webster Street, and employed upward of 
twenty-five persons. Later Thomas Scotton had a shop 
on Hunnewell Street, and John did a smaller business on 
Webster Street. 

Twenty-five years ago there were a number of small 
establishments where elastic stockings and other elastic 
goods were made. Dea. William Moseley was a veteran 
in this business, and for many years resided on Maple, or 
Oak, Street on the Great Plain, and in his latter years 
manufactured in a shop near his house. At one time he 
made "women's" hosiery, but did not continue this line of 
goods for more than four years. Deacon Moseley served 
in the Civil War, and was one of the most highly respected 
citizens of the town. He was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, 
September 4, 1824, came to the United States in 1854, and 
to Needham in i860. He died September 13, 1909. 

William Gorse has for many years been a manufacturer 
of elastic goods in his shop on Hunnewell Street, and since 
about 1896 his son, Frank W., has had a similar business 
of his own. Mr. Gorse was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, 
came to Needham during the Civil War, and is a prominent 
citizen. 

For years John Moseley rented a portion of Carter's 
factory, but in 1883 he purchased an acre of land nearly 
opposite, and Moseley & Co. built a factory, which was 
seriously damaged by fire in 1906 and rebuilt. This factory 
is on the site of the planing-mill of Webber Brothers, who 
sold the property to John F. Mills, and he carried on the 



408 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

grain business there. The planlng-mill was burned some 
time before Mr. Moseley's purchase. 

In 1888 Moseley & Co. made woolen hosiery and chil- 
dren's fine underwear, and in 191 1 the product Is chiefly 
children's underwear and gloves. This Industry gives em- 
ployment to about fifty persons, and In the nineties was 
known as the Highland Mills. 

William Roper and his family came from Hawick In 
Roxburghshire, Scotland, to Guelph, Canada, In 1864, 
and in 1881 they removed to Needham, and became makers 
of athletic goods on hand-frames In a small shop on West 
Street. The firm name In 1888 was Roper & Sons. 

After Mr. Roper's death his sons, Robert G. and William, 
enlarged their shop and Introduced machinery, and in a 
few years their business expanded, and Roper Bros, had a 
fine plant devoted exclusively to the manufacture of ath- 
letic goods, the first one answering that description In New 
England. Robert G. Roper died In 1898, aged forty- two 
years, and William In 1907 at the age of forty-nine years. 
At the time of the death of the latter they were making 
the goods for Wright & Ditson, and the business has been 
continued by Robert B. Smith, formerly the superintendent 
in their factory. 

Among the well-known woolen manufacturers in Needham 
have been Charles S. Hall of Hunnewell Street, who in the 
eighties made a specialty of "Ladies' and Children's Fancy 
Mitts" of worsted and silk, Toone Bros., later William 
Toone & Co. of Hunnewell Street, and Joseph Langdale, 
Dale Street; the latter made fine woolen gloves. 

Samuel Hudson, who had a love for books and learning, 
and was for many years a trustee of the Free Public Library, 
advertised in 1888 " Shetland Shawls, Polka Mittens, 
Gloves and Hosiery". He lived on Hunnewell Street, and 
made the goods there. His portrait Is in the new library. 
Several of the men mentioned did only a small business, 
but It all contributed toward the growth and prosperity 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 409 

of the town. In 1908 a few individuals were still engaged 
in making the coarse woolen gloves on the hand-frames, 
and Frederick Lathom made gloves of a finer grade in the 
same way. 

Facts relative to the Industries of Needham from the 
State Census: — 

In 1865 about $300,000 were invested in manufacturing, 
and the stock used was reported as worth about $333,000, 
and the goods made were valued at about $527,000. 
There were two hundred and twenty-one men and one 
hundred and eighty-five women employed in making these 
goods. 

In 1875 about $640,000 were invested in manufactories, 
and the product was about $1,375,000. The stock used 
was estimated at $495,752. The two factories that made 
paints and colors represented a capital of $245,000, and the 
product was valued at $550,000. Next in importance were 
the eleven hosiery establishments, which represented a cap- 
ital of $251,000, and produced goods estimated at $520,000 
(57,354 dozen). The other manufacturing industries were 
as follows: — paper, capital $25,000, product $96,000, 
Manilla paper, capital $18,000, product $26,000, shoddy, 
capital $10,000, product $25,000, boots and shoes, capi- 
tal $10,000, product $70,000, mouldings and doors, capital 
$30,000, product $25,000, elastic hose and bandages, capital 
$9700, product $19,600, blind-hinges and fastenings, capi- 
tal $15,000, product $10,000, glue, capital $4350, product 
$13,025. There were seventy-three manufacturing plants, 
and they employed six hundred and forty-three men and 
one hundred and nineteen women. In the hosiery business 
there were two sets of machinery, fifty-four hand-looms, on 
which woolen goods were made, and three on which worsted 
goods were made. There were seven steam-engines in 
Needham, and their total horse-power was actually about 
two hundred and thirteen; the eleven water-wheels had a 
nominal horse-power of four hundred and sixty-three. In 



410 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the different census tables the statements are conflicting in 
the absence of explanations. In one place the value of the 
buildings used for manufacturing is estimated at $149,400, 
and the machinery at $168,000, of which $50,000 was im- 
ported. The motive power in eighty-eight instances was by 
hand, and four machines were run by the feet. These were 
evidently the English "frames". One table indicates that 
there were thirty-eight places where hosiery was made, 
having previously given the number as eleven. The former 
figures seem more reasonable. Another table states that 
four hundred and ninety-three men and two hundred and 
twelve women were employed in the town making articles for 
sale, and the inference is that four hundred and three men 
and all the women were given work by the hosiery or silk 
industries. It says that two hundred and thirty-five women 
were given some work at home, and presumably most of them 
sewed gloves. It nowhere appears whether the two hundred 
and twelve were included in this number, or not. The 
amount paid in wages annually was then estimated at 
$341,220. The statement that there were four glue plants 
in Needham in 1875 is clear, and probably correct. In 
some tables the products of the building trades, wood, and 
a variety of merchandise are evidently included. 

In 1885 the capital invested in manufacturing was re- 
ported as $302,827, the stock used was estimated at $170,1 18, 
and the finished products as worth $377,247. There were 
thirty-three private manufacturing establishments, with 
thirty-eight individuals interested as partners, and there 
were two corporations with fifteen stockholders. There were 
three hundred and sixty-nine persons employed, and the 
wages paid them amounted to $109,817. Two hundred and 
fourteen women were given some work at home by the fifteen 
hosiery and knit-goods shops and factories. At three places 
silk goods were made. 

In 1895 the capital invested in manufacturing was prac- 
tically the same as in 1885, but the value of the stock used 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 411 

was $322,047, and the products $720,777; the latter in- 
cluded "work done", which may cover a wide range of 
trades. The machinery and motive power was valued at 
$114,631, and the buildings at only $27,406. Five hundred 
and fifty-eight persons were in different employments, but 
apparently were not all engaged in manufacturing. There 
were twelve steam-boilers, with a total horse-power of three 
hundred and thirty-seven, twelve steam-engines, with a 
horse-power of two hundred and twenty-three, and the two 
water-wheels were credited with fifty horse-power. Thirty- 
two establishments made hosiery, and all were carried on by 
private Individuals, or firms. The seventy-four establish- 
ments classed as manufactories gave occupation to three 
hundred and eighty-eight persons, of whom one hundred and 
ninety-three made hosiery. In Needham $164,221 were 
invested in making "Hosiery and Knit Goods", and the 
stock used was estimated at $103,815, and the" value of goods 
made and work done" at $247,771. There were thirty-nine 
partners, or stockholders, in this business, and the amount 
paid in wages was $70,119. This was a particularly dull 
period, and many plants were idle. 

The census of 1905 states that there were $546,196 In- 
vested in manufacturing, that stock worth $327,029 was 
used, and that the product was valued at $688,024. There 
were twenty-four establishments of all kinds, and appar- 
ently sixteen firms and three corporations made clothing. 
The number of partners, or stockholders, was thirty-two. 
Employment was given to three hundred and sixty persons, 
of whom one hundred and nine were males over sixteen, 
and two hundred and thirty-nine were females over sixteen. 
The smallest number employed at any time during the year 
1904 was three hundred and four, and the largest was four 
hundred and twenty-nine. The amount paid in wages 
was estimated at $155,432, and the average number of days 
when the plants were in operation was two hundred and 
ninety-two. There were seven steam-engines, three gas, or 



412 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

gasoline, engines, two water-wheels credited with thirty 
horse-power, and two electric motors, the latter of fifty-five 
horse-power. 

BEAMS PLACED IN THE BED OF THE CHARLES RIVER 

About 1830, before steam-power was employed, there was 
a demand for water to run the mills at Dedham, and where 
the river divides, one stream forming Mother Brook, the 
mill-owners deepened the channels in a dry season. The 
Commonwealth then required beams to be placed in the bed 
of the river to regulate the amount of water flowing In 
either channel. A short distance west of Highland Avenue 
Bridge, In Needham, the river is narrowed thirty or forty 
feet, by means of walls which form a channel. Eleven beams 
each about fifteen Inches wide, and placed six feet apart, 
were located In the bed of the river, and can be plainly seen 
when the water is low, or when passing over them in a boat. 
These channels were constructed by Otis Pettee, the elder, 
an enterprising and energetic man, and his work appears 
to have been well done, for the walls and beams seem in good 
condition after the lapse of eighty years. 

On the east of the Turnpike Bridge, at the Upper Falls, 
was a basin of several arches for the storage of water. The 
facts about these beams and the channel were obtained 
from the venerable Henry Michael M'^Intosh. 

THE NEEDHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND BOARD OF TRADE 

The Needham Business Association and Board of Trade 
was organized In the spring of 1906, with William Carter, 
the principal manufacturer in town, as its president. The 
membership was then limited to sixty, but was extended to 
one hundred in 1910. The interests of Needham are largely 
residential, but the board serves an Important purpose in 
affording a means of concurrent action on all sorts of matters 
connected with the welfare of the town. Much attention has 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 413 

been given to securing the best railroad facilities, remedying 
grievances, and to "village improvement" work. There are 
a number of standing committees. The board usually meets 
on Monday, but until November, 1907, the meetings were 
on the third Wednesday of each month, and were then 
changed to the third Thursday. 

RAILROADS 

On April i, 1834, the selectmen were directed to attend 
"to the Incrochments made on the town roads by the Boston 
& Worcester railroad". This railroad was opened to West 
Newton on April 16, 1834, ^^^ to West Needham, Grant- 
ville, on June 20th following. On September 4, 1867, the 
Boston and Worcester Railroad Corporation was consoli- 
dated with the Western Railroad Corporation under the 
name of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, and on 
February 17, 1883, purchased of the New York and New 
England Railroad Company for $411,400 its road from 
Brookline to Cook Street in Newton Highlands. The New- 
ton Circuit of the Boston and Albany was opened on May 



16, 1886. 



CHARLES RIVER RAILROAD 



On March 6, 1851, the town resolved in favor of extending 
the Charles River Railroad to unite with the New York and 
Boston Railroad, the resolve to be sent to the General Court. 
By notice dated December 30, 185 1, the subscriptions for 
the capital stock of the Charles River Railroad were called 
in to the amount of $25 per share, payable on or before 
February 2, 1852. On certain days these payments could be 
made at the following places: — i. Nahaton Hall, Newton 
Upper Falls. 2. House of Marshall S. Rice, the treasurer, 
Newton Centre. 3. Office of Artemas Newell, Esq., Brook- 
line. 4. House of E. K. Whitaker, Needham. 

The notice of the opening of the railroad to Needham was 
dated May 25, 1853, and took place on June i. A special 



414 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

train left the Boston and Worcester Railroad station at 12 M. 
on that day, and stopped five minutes at each way station 
to receive stockholders and guests. The notice states that 
"On the arrival of the train, a procession will be formed at 
the Great Plain Station, Needham, and proceed to a Grove 
in the vicinity of the station, where a collation will be pro- 
vided. The return train will leave Needham at 5.15 P.M. 
Committee of Arrangements 
E. C. Hutchins Henry Billings 

H. W. Jones Artemas Newell 

E. K. Whitaker Marshall S. Rice" 

This grove has been for many years owned by John J. 
Morgan. 

The opening of the railroad transferred the business of 
East Needham to the Great Plain, and In 1879 the meeting- 
house of the First Church and First Parish was removed from 
the old Centre, the flag pole, which was a fine tall one, was 
soon after taken away, and the eclipse of the "Centre" 
became total. 

The unwillingness of one citizen to give his land Is said 
to have led the railroad prospectors to abandon the route 
by the Centre, and to substitute that over the Great Plain, 
where land was cheerfully offered. In 1855 the Charles 
River Railroad became a part of the New York and Boston 
Railroad Company, and was united with the Charles River 
Branch Railroad and with certain roads In Rhode Island 
and Connecticut. In 1865 the Boston, Hartford and Erie 
Railroad Company acquired the New York and Boston. In 
1873 the General Court ratified and confirmed to the New 
York and New England Railroad Company all of the fran- 
chises of the Boston, Hartford and Erie; the former repre- 
sented the bondholders under the Berdell mortgage of 1866, 
who had been incorporated as the New York and New Eng- 
land Railroad Company. This new company was in turn 
purchased by Its mortgagees in 1895, who were authorized 
to change its name, and they called it the New England 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 415 

Railroad Company, although they had been Incorporated 
the previous year as the New England and New York Rail- 
road Company. The New England Railroad was leased by 
the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company 
under an Act of the General Court passed In May, 1898, and 
in 1905 the latter company was authorized to purchase the 
former, and obtained a deed In the spring of 1908. 

In 1 87 1 the town had petitioned for flagmen at the grade 
crossings. 

In 1878 William Emerson Baker completed a large hotel 
in Needham, which he named Hotel Wellesley, and 
within a year or so he persuaded the New York and New 
England Railroad Company to build a branch from their 
road at Charles River Village to this hotel, raising a bridge 
over the tracks at Central Avenue, and running along the 
river to a point southwest of the hotel. This road was op- 
erated for several summers and then abandoned, the town 
removing the bridge and restoring Central Avenue to a 
reasonable grade In 1889. The expense was about $750, of 
which the railroad paid $300, and Harold W. Windram 
$200. 

In 1889 the town had a controversy with the railroad as 
to Oak Street, as the County Commissioners refused to lay 
out a road over a railroad crossing at grade. The railroad 
claimed the right to close the crossing, and the town brought 
suit, employing Henry E. Fales as counsel. The next year 
the town removed the obstructions placed by the railroad 
company, replanked the crossing, and ultimately won its 
contention. This is not the only instance In which the town 
has had a controversy with the steam railroad, and In later 
years dissatisfaction with the street railways has led to 
official action from time to time. 

At a town meeting on December 21, 1892, the town unani- 
mously urged the Old Colony Railroad Company to build 
a road from South Framingham to West Roxbury, and 
offered "a free right of way over lands owned by the town 



4i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

within the town", but nothing more than surveys resulted, 
and presumably these were not inspired by the town's 
liberal offer. 

STREET RAILWAYS 

In March or April, 1893, the selectmen of Needham 
granted a franchise to the Needham Street Railway Company 
from the Wellesley line to the Dedham line over Great 
Plain Avenue, also over Webster Street, and on Great 
Plain Avenue and Highland Avenue from the Needham 
post-ofRce to the Newton line. The petition was signed by 
William Carter, William G. Moseley, James Mackintosh 
and thirteen others. It was an ambitious project, and in 
March, 1893, the petitioners, or some of them, asked the 
Board of Aldermen of the City of Newton for a franchise 
over some of the principal streets of that city, the descrip- 
tion ending with "through Walnut Street to the Boston and 
Albany Railroad in said City of Newton". The location 
granted in Needham was accepted by the directors of the 
company on April 8, 1893. Dr. Albert D. Kingsbury was 
then an officer of the corporation, and subscriptions were 
received for stock. On January 7, 1896, the selectmen 
conceded a franchise to the Needham and Newton Street 
Railway Company to lay tracks on the easterly side of 
Chapel Street to Highland Avenue, thence on the easterly 
side of this avenue to Morton Street, thence in the centre 
of the avenue to a point opposite a private way on the north 
side of the property of the Methodist Church, thence on 
said Highland Avenue, on the easterly side, to the Newton 
line. Charles Atherton Hicks was interested In this enter- 
prise, as in others for the development of the town. A 
bond of $1000 was given as a guarantee, but the death of 
Albert C. Pond of Newton prevented the construction of 
the railroad, and the town surrendered the bond, after 
some discussion. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 417 

THE NEWTON AND BOSTON STREET RAILWAY COMPANY 

The Newton and Boston Street Railway Company re- 
ceived a franchise from the selectmen, William G. Moseley, 
Francis L. Fuller and George K. Clarke, on February 2, 
1897, and was the first street railway built and operated 
in Needham. The locations were accepted by the directors 
on February 24th. The corporation was desirous of this 
franchise, and the selectmen were negotiating in order to 
protect the town from expense caused by damage to its 
streets while the road was being built, and to have the 
company assume certain responsibilities for the care of the 
streets it was to use, particularly with reference to the 
removal of snow. Reduced fares for the school children, 
and the acceptance of transfer checks from other street 
railways within the limits of the town, so that but one fare 
should be collected for a continuous ride from one section 
to another, were matters then under consideration, and 
everything was progressing favorably. A public hearing 
was necessary, and It was held in the town hall on December 
7, 1896, where It was declared that the road was "a neces- 
sity", the selectmen were criticized for attempting to pro- 
tect the interests of the town, and everything was to be 
left to the generosity of the railroad officials. "What we 
want Is a railroad, and I don't care whether the fare is five 
cents or ten" was the statement of one orator, and equally 
discreet sentiments were expressed by others to the evident 
amusement of the representatives of the Newton and Boston 
Street Railway Company. The selectmen declined to 
accept the verdict of this meeting, but were nevertheless 
embarrassed by its action, and could not secure for the 
citizens all of the advantages that they might otherwise 
have had. Early in 1907 grievances against this street 
railway company were discussed In town meetings, but 
the events at the time the franchise was granted were 
ignored, and criticism was confined to the selectmen for 



4i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

1907. The petitioners for this railway were Horace B. 
Parker and five others, and their petition of November 10, 
1896, asked for a franchise "to the Square at Needham De- 
pot", but this the selectmen, with a view to the future, 
refused to grant, and time has shown the wisdom of their 
position. Extensions of this franchise have been granted, 
but only two of them are of special interest. On January 
15, 1900, a permit was given to extend wires on three poles 
of the West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway Com- 
pany, across the tracks of the steam railroad, in order] to 
supply the Natick and Cochituate Street Railway Company 
with additional power. On February i, 1907, an extension 
of the tracks on Chestnut Street, from South Street to Great 
Plain Avenue, was granted. 

THE NATICK AND COCHITUATE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY 

This was the second street railway that materialized in 
Needham, and the location or franchise was obtained from 
the selectmen of Needham on November i, 1897, and the 
first car ran from Wellesley to Needham at one o'clock P.M., 
on April 6, 1899. The franchise had granted a location not 
only to the present terminus, but to the Dedham line via 
Great Plain Avenue, Dedham Avenue and Great Plain 
Avenue again to the Dedham line, but the location east 
of the track of the steam railroad was subsequently can- 
celled by mutual consent, and would have expired by limi- 
tation on November i, 1899. 

OTHER STREET RAILWAYS 

The Needham and Boston Street Railway Company was 
granted a location by the selectmen on November 10, 1898, 
on petition of Charles Atherton Hicks and four others. 
The railway was to start on the easterly side of the tracks 
of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Com- 
pany (New England Railroad Company), and to run over 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 419 

Great Plain Avenue to the Dedham line. It was to be com- 
pleted by June i, 1899, but on May 25, 1899, the select- 
men extended the time one month. On February 14, 1899, 
an additional location via Dedham and Harris Avenues 
to Great Plain Avenue, crossing Webster Street, had been 
granted by the selectmen, and this was practically substi- 
tuted for the earlier plan so far as the route was changed 
by It. Charles Atherton Hicks, who subscribed for sixty 
shares, was president of this railway company, Frederic G. 
Tuttle clerk, and Edward F. Howe treasurer, but the con- 
trol was acquired by others, who built the road, which was 
advertised to open for travel on June 28, 1899. On June 6 
the selectmen had consented that the Needham and Boston 
Street Railway Company should exchange cars with the 
West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway Company at 
the Dedham line. In 1900 the Needham and Boston became 
a part of the West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway, 
and in 1901 of the Old Colony Street Railway. On peti- 
tion of seven men. Including some citizens of Needham, a 
franchise was granted on November 4, 1899, to the Natick 
and Needham Street Railway Company. The route was 
from Great Plain Avenue, over Chestnut, South and Charles 
River Streets to the Dover line. In 1901 this railway be- 
came a part of the South Middlesex Street Railway, and the 
cars ceased to run on December 18, 1903. Within two years 
the tracks were removed, with the exception of those on 
Chestnut Street, which were later acquired by the Newton 
and Boston Street Railway Company. The selectmen, 
however, for a time withheld the franchise from the latter 
company because it Increased Its fares to six cents, and 
required two fares Instead of one to Watertown. When the 
Natick and Needham Street Railway was first opened 
there was considerable travel over It, as was the case with 
all of these roads, but in this Instance it was particularly 
dependent upon pleasure riders and did not last. 

On November 28, 1899, the selectmen granted a franchise 



420 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to the Medfield and Needham Street Railway Company 
from Day's Bridge on Chestnut Street to South Street, but 
no road was built, nor has the Boston and Providence 
Street Railway Company availed of a franchise granted 
them by the selectmen on March 5, 1905. This latter road 
was petitioned for by James F. Shaw and four others, under 
date of December 6, 1904, and the proposed route was on 
Highland Avenue to Webster Street, thence on Webster 
Street to its intersection with Great Plain Avenue, thence 
via this avenue and Chestnut Street to the Dover line at 
Day's Bridge. 

NEW STEAM RAILROAD 

In August, 1905, the New England Railroad Company 
began to build a railroad from a point south of the Needham 
station in order to connect with the Boston and Provi- 
dence Railroad at West Roxbury. Both of these railroads 
were leased and operated by the New York, New Haven 
and Hartford Railroad Company. The lease of the Boston 
and Providence to the Old Colony Railroad Company was 
the first of the consolidations now controlled by the New 
York, New Haven and Hartford. This new railroad was 
elaborately constructed, with many costly bridges over 
the roads, several of them in Needham, and was completed 
and opened for travel on Sunday morning, November 4, 
1906. Its superior service has brought Needham within 
twenty-one minutes of the South Terminal station; many 
of the trains are express between the new station at Need- 
ham Junction and the Back Bay, and others stop only at 
West Roxbury. In 191 1 an extensive granolithic platform, 
largely roofed, was completed at the Needham station. 

All of these railroads, including the street railways, had 
formal openings, and the first cars run were practically 
private cars, as is the custon. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 421 

ENGINEERS AND CONDUCTORS 

Henry Hitchcock ran the engine that drew the train at 
the opening of the Charles River Railroad, but whether 
this was the opening through to Needham is uncertain. 
In the early days of this railroad Mr. Hitchcock was the 
engineer between Brookline and Needham, and drove the 
"Mercury", James M. Alger taking the train between 
Brookline and Boston with the "Lion". Mr. Alger 
had driven the "Lion" drawing the gravel cars between 
the Upper Falls and Brookline during the construction of 
the railroad. The "Marshall Rice" and the "Hiram 
Allen" are said to have been the first engines in regular use 
on the Charles River Railroad. 

From 1861 to the present time (191 1) Myron A. Munson 
has been known to successive generations as a conductor, 
and a respected citizen of Needham. He is in charge of 
trains between Boston and Cook Street, via the railroad 
completed in 1906, and has survived all the re-organiza- 
tions, leases and sales of the different railroads connecting 
Needham with Boston. Another genial and popular con- 
ductor, and a familiar figure to all who have used the steam 
railroad for the past thirty years, was George Frederick 
Story, who succeeded Luther J. Hamlett of Woonsocket. 
Mr. Story died November 2 (or i), 1909. 

For a quarter of a century Edmund C. Hawes of Woon- 
socket ran trains through Needham, retiring in the early 
nineties on account of age. Mr. Hawes is pleasantly re- 
membered. For twenty-two years ending in 1889 Enos H. 
Tucker was the superintendent of the Woonsocket Divi- 
sion, and his son, Frederic H. Tucker, who was a railroad 
official for thirty years, acquired his early experience on 
this division. Of the engineers Horace [G.?] Witherell was 
a faithful servant of the public, who lost his life many years 
ago at the crossing of the Providence Railroad, near Hunt- 
ington Avenue. John Heath and Charles A. Lord, both 



422 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

citizens of Needham, are veteran drivers of the locomo- 
tives that have drawn in safety the train loads of people to 
and from their daily occupations in the city. Isaiah W. 
Heath and Daniel Barnes were for years engineers on the 
Woonsocket Division, and both lived in Needham. 



FILLING OF THE BACK BAY IN BOSTON WITH SOIL 
FROM NEEDHAM 

In 1859 Myron C. Munson of Shirley began to transport 
gravel to fill the Back Bay in Boston from East Needham, 
near the Charles River and southeast of the village of the 
Upper Falls. Powerful locomotives drawing forty loaded 
cars, and the best machinery were employed, and in ten 
years hills were levelled, more than one hundred acres 
east of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad were totally 
changed in character, and the work was extended west of 
the railroad to Central Avenue. In this territory were 
several special tracks, and two hundred men were required, 
as there was no cessation of the trains at night. This re- 
moval of gravel from Needham continued into the early 
seventies. The first reference to It is the vote of the town 
on December 27, 1859, which referred to the selectmen the 
proposition of the "Gravel Company" as to taking down 
the hill between Otis Alden's and Joslah Eaton's, and in 
June, 1863, an offer of Mr. Munson to remove the hill near 
Kendrlck's Bridge, and to build a proper road, was re- 
ferred to the selectmen, with the provision that Mr. Munson 
give a bond, which he did, and as late as 1873 this bond 
was the subject of discussion. Hundreds of acres were 
transformed Into a desert by the removal of this soil, to 
the depth of many feet, and for twenty-five years the land 
was practically of no value, and the valuation of $10 per 
acre was thought to be high. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 423 

LAND ENTERPRISES 

In 1853 Daniel Ayers of Lowell bought the Jesse (Luther) 
Kingsbury farm of sixty-eight acres, which extended from 
Washington to Worcester Streets, and on the southeast side 
of the former to the brook. Mr. Ayers built Kingsbury 
and State Streets through this farm, and he also purchased 
one hundred and seventy-five acres of Holman, Paine and 
Childs, between Forest Street and Wellesley Avenue, 
reaching from Washington Street and the aqueduct to a 
point opposite the Abbott Road. This territory was called 
Bostonville, and was the subject of the first real estate boom 
in Needham; auctions were held and free lunches provided 
for possible purchasers. It does not appear whether people 
were brought to these auctions at the expense of the owners 
of the land, as was the custom in the nineties when such 
sales occurred at River, Fremont or Home Parks. 

In Bostonville space was left for Churches, school- 
houses and other public buildings, and for a time there was 
active competition to secure lots in the contemplated city, 
which Mr. Ayers assured the purchasers was inevitable. 
This land in Bostonville was the first that was taxed in 
lots in Needham, and in the sixties was designated by the 
names of its former owners, — Kingsbury Land, Paine 
Land or Holman Land. In i860 the Blanchard Land was 
also assessed in lots to many different owners. 

Soon after the railroad came to the Great Plain, a Mr. 
Whitaker made a prospective plan of "Needham Great 
Plain Village," showing a thickly settled place, with a 
high school where is now the blacksmith's shop of John H. 
Fitzgerald. Highland Avenue was then called East Street. 
The land of Stephen F. Harvey, on the west side of Chest- 
nut Street, was laid out in lots for a long distance, and 
also the land of Charles E. Keith to the west of it, and close 
to the railroad. About 1854 Mr. Harvey built Village Hall, 
which was a small structure. 



424 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

From 1869 to 1872 many houses were built in East Need- 
ham, as well as in West Needham, and the demand for 
house-lots led to the belief that the whole town was about 
to show a rapid growth. Charles E. Keith and others on 
the Great Plain had been enthusiastic for years, and some 
of them had paid high prices for fields and pastures, which, 
in some instances, they still possessed in 1905. TheNehoiden 
Land Company was organized by William H. Crocker in 
1875, and offered attractive building sites on the Great 
Plain. About the same time the Avery Land at Highland- 
ville had been divided into lots, and was owned by William 
Carter, and in the West John W. Shaw had laid out in lots 
an estate on Laurel Avenue. Similar enterprises multi- 
plied. Prior to 1876 Dr. Albert E. Miller was the owner 
of the Colburn and Morton estates (Nehoiden Land Com- 
pany), and that year became a resident of Needham, and 
rapidly developed "Millerville ", where he built and sold 
many houses. William Carter was constantly engaged in 
land and building enterprises in Highlandville, which vil- 
lage owed its origin to the courage and foresight of his father- 
in-law, Jonathan Avery, who induced industries to locate 
there, provided houses, and is justly regarded as the founder 
of this important portion of the town. Avery Square, 
Avery Street, and the Avery School perpetuate his memory. 

The years 1893 and 1894 saw the beginning of a number 
of the "parks" that since have attracted much attention. 
On the Great Plain there were several fine tracts of land 
offered for sale in lots, including Oakland Park, of which 
John Moseley is the owner, and Oakhurst, then controlled 
or owned by Charles Atherton Hicks, who constructed a 
costly boulevard through it, on which the tracks of the 
street railway, now the Old Colony, were laid. Mr. Hicks 
was usually in advance of the time, but there can be no 
question that his enterprises benefited the town, if not 
the investor. 

Dr. Larkin Dunton developed River Park, one hundred 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 425 

and twenty acres on the west side of the railroad, near the 
Upper Falls, and also, to a smaller extent. Home Park, for- 
merly Fuller Land, on the east side of Highland Avenue. 
Frank W. Yerxa was the principal owner of Fremont Park, 
which, before there were sales, contained sixty acres. This 
park is on Highland Avenue, and southeast of River 
Park, and at the junction of Central and Wellesley Avenues 
was Highland Park, which had less area than some of the 
other parks in that vicinity, and by 1898 had many owners. 
In some instances lots of five thousand feet in one of these 
parks were sold for more than the assessed valuation of ten 
acres of the same land when the parks were first planned 
and laid out. The sales in the larger parks near the river 
were usually at auction on Saturday afternoons, and often 
on the installment plan. Subsequent to 1900, particularly 
after the new railroad was opened in 1906, the development 
of real estate was rapid, and cannot be followed in this 
history; the advance in prices has corresponded with the 
increased demand for houses and house-lots. The Co- 
operative Bank has been an important factor in the growth 
of the town, and The Needham Associates, consisting of 
Dr. Albert E. Miller, F. Ernest Thorpe, and a Boston 
partner, have built seventeen good houses in six years at 
a cost of nearly $100,000, and Mr. Thorpe, the active asso- 
ciate, has bought and sold a large amount of other prop- 
erty for this trust, or syndicate. The assessed valuation of 
some of the land that has been improved by these Asso- 
ciates has increased six fold. 

BANKS 

The Needham Savings Bank was incorporated on April 
7, 1874, ^^d the Honorable Galen Orr became its president, 
and Emery Grover secretary and treasurer, but the bank 
never did a large business, and after a few years it was 
given up. The depositors received their money in full, 
but lost some interest. 



426 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The Needham Co-operative Bank was incorporated on 
April 21, 1892, and began business on May 9. This bank 
is one of the most important and successful institutions 
in Needham, and from January 8, 1906 to May i, 191 1, 
its assets increased from about $100,000 to $309,392.29. 
On May i, 191 1, there were nine hundred and thirty-nine 
members, and there were seven thousand five hundred and 
ninety-eight shares, the latter representing twenty-three 
of the thirty-eight issues. The thirty-ninth series of shares 
is now offered for sale, and the bank has paid at the rate 
of six per cent, compounded semi-annually, from its in- 
corporation. The authorized capital is one million dollars. 
Dr. Albert E. Miller has been the president and William 
G. Moseley the secretary and treasurer from the beginning, 
and the management has been both prudent and enter- 
prising, resulting in a bank which has the confidence of the 
community. The bank held its first meeting in the town 
hall in the Bourne Building, as it is now called, and for 
fourteen years had its office in this building, renting the 
library room for certain hours. From the autumn of 1898 
it regularly leased these premises until the room was granted 
by the town to the Grand Army of the Republic, when the 
bank was removed to the banqueting hall above, returning 
to the second floor when the town clerk transferred his 
office to the new town hall. In 1906 the bank moved into 
a commodious banking-office at 234 Great Plain Avenue, 
in Fowler's Block, and on November i, 1910, it occupied 
a still more spacious office at 232 Great Plain Avenue, 
where the treasurer is on duty an entire day and evening 
each month, and at advertised hours at other times. 



iWilitatrp mim& 



The Act of November 22, 1693, required each town to 
have one barrel of good powder, two hundred weight of 
bullets, and three hundred flints for every sixty enlisted 
men; the selectmen to furnish the poor with arms and 
ammunition according to the decision of the chief commis- 
sioned officers in the town. The personal equipment to be 
kept ready by each citizen was prescribed in detail by the 
law. 

TOWN AMMUNITION AND POWDER-HOUSE 

On September 12, 1721, a rate of £16 was voted "to 
procuer a Stock of Amminition for y^ Company & also for 

pay for 

to make in a pound & Stocks", and in May, 1746, the town 
voted "the Bird Money to be Layed out for ammunition". 
In 1748 the town treasurer paid Lieut. Zachariah Mills 
£1, old tenor, "for his Buying and Bringing up from Bofton 
y^ Town Stock of ammunition". On July 12, 1753, Lieut. 
Amos Fuller, Timothy Newell and Lieut. Aaron Smith 
were chosen to procure "a place to Keep the Town Stock 
of Arms and Amunition". This powder-house cost £6, 
8s., 2d., 2f., but it does not appear whether it was in the 
meeting-house, or was an independent building. When 
the meeting-house was burned in 1773 town ammunition 
was kept in the loft, apparently in a chest, and the first 
distinct powder-house that has been located is the one that 
stood on "Powder House Ledge", west of Nathaniel Wales's 
barn. In 1764 four pence were granted to Michael Met- 
calf "for a Staple for y^ powder houfe", and on June 2, 



428 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

1777, the town voted "to Sell y^ Houfe Called y powder 
Houfe", and after an adjournment for a quarter of an hour, 
chose Col. M:5lntafh, as the town clerk spelled the Colonel's 
name for many years, to "be Vandue Mafter to Sell the 
powder Houfe". In 1774 the town purchased of Jonathan 
Patten "Two Cafks of powder and Thirty Pound of Bullets 
and Fifty Flints and One Pail", for £8, 4s., 9d., 2f., and 
during the war bought powder, "Guns Locks Flints and 
Lead". On December 15, 1777, the town voted "That 
the Selectmen Should Sell the Six new Guns, and the Six 
New Gun Locks, and One Hundred pounds of the Lead", 
also the "New Flints", that had been assigned to Needham 
by the General Court. In 1796 the town refused to build 
a powder-house, but In 1800 appointed Colonel Kingsbery, 
Daniel Smith, Capt. Ebenezer M^'Intosh, Colonel Alden 
and James Smith a committee to build one. The powder- 
house built in 1800 cost upward of $100, and James Smith 
and Daniel Sanger, the masons who laid the bricks, boarded 
at Captain Macintosh's. There Is a payment of $7.50 for one 
thousand bricks delivered, and also one of $2 for carting a 
like quantity from Watertown. Perhaps the two lots were 
Identical. In 1835 Israel Whitney took away the powder- 
house, but traces of It remain on Powder House Ledge to 
this day (191 1). 

SPANISH WAR OF 1740 

The Soldiers from Needham under command of Admiral 
Vernon In 1740/1, In the expedition against the Spanish 
colonies In the West Indies, particularly Cuba, were: — Jere- 
miah Smith, aged 18, blacksmith, enlisted May 27, 1740, 
in Capt. John Prescott's company, Jonas Cooke, aged 23, 
mason, enHsted July 12, Richard Fuller, aged 28, husband- 
man, enlisted July 24, Jn° George, aged 20, husbandman, 
enlisted July 20, John CoUer, aged 26, husbandman, en- 
listed July 17. The four last named were in Capt. Stephen 
Richards's company. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 429 

For verbatim copies of muster-rolls see the Year-book of 
the Society of Colonial Wars In Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 
80, 92-94. 

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR 

During the French and Indian Wars "the Leg" or "West 
End" was temporarily a part of Natick, and the military 
service of Its Inhabitants was credited to that town. In 
the War of the Revolution The Leg furnished a brave quota 
for Needham, of whom were Lieut. John Bacon, of the 
Minute Men, slain at West Cambridge April 19, 1775, and 
his six sons. Lieut. John had served In the "Old War" 
of 1745-8, and had been at Annapolis Royal. In 1748/9 
the town voted £20 each to John Brown, William Mills, 
Jr., and Thomas Gardner; the claim of the latter was on 
account of his son Daniel. These grants were to refund 
money paid "when Impreft to Goe Into his Majefty's 
ferulce". A year later £20 were allowed to HopestlU Field 
for a similar reason. On May 22, 1755, the town voted to 
"Refer all the Lifted Solders" to the next meeting.^ In 
1767 the town reimbursed Alexander Farle £2, los., "which 
he paid Towards HIreIng a man or men Into His Majefty's 
Service about Eight years ago", but declined to excuse 
Henry Dewing "from paying of Two Notes that he Gave as 
a fine for a Soldier that Lived with him. That was Under 
his Care and abfented him Self From Training". Six years 
later these notes were returned to Dewing to be cancelled. 

Col. William M<=Intosh (Mackintosh) Is the most distin- 
guished soldier that has been Identified with Needham; 
he began his military career some ten years before he came 
here to live. When the forces were raised to repel the 
incursions of the French at Crown Point and at Lake Cham- 
plain, he received an ensign's commission, September 9, 

1 In 1759 Henry, Daniel and Stephen Bacon, Jr., presumably inhabitants of 
"The Leg," then a part of Natick, paid £8, £4, and £4 respectively for substi- 
tutes to go to the war. 



430 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



1755, and soon after joined the army at Fort Edward. This 
was the dark period of the war following Braddock's defeat. 
While in service at Lake George Ensign M*'Intosh was made 
a first lieutenant, his commission bearing the date of March 
13, 1758. He was destined to be a brave and able officer 
in the War of the American Revolution. 

From a muster roll, dated December 4, 1754, of a "Com- 
pany in His Majesties Service Employ'd for the Defence 
of the Eastern frontiers under the Command of Jofeph 
Willson Captain", it appears that Daniel Gardner of 
Needham enlisted on May 31, 1754, at £1, 6s., 8d. per 
month, and was discharged on September 7, having served 
three months, two weeks and two days. His total wages 
were £4, 19s., id. Archives, Vol. 93, p. 134. 

From the roll of "Col. Timothy Ruggles Company in a 
Regiment whereof he is Colonel Fort Edward July 26, 1756", 
were obtained particulars of the following Needham men, 
all of whom, except Humphrey, had been at one time in 
Captain Kingsbery's company of Colonel Brinley's regiment. 





Age 


Where bom 


Occupation 


Lieutenant William Humphrey 


26 


Dorchester 




Sergeant Theophilus Richardson 


36 


Wobum 


Farmer 


Josiah Lyon 


33 


Roxbury 


Cordwainer 


Corporal Jesse Knap 


27 


Newton 


Blacksmith 


Drummer Jacob Stoil 


20 


Dedham 


Blacksmith 


John Beaverstock 


18 


Needham 


Farmer 


John Clark 


26 


Roxbury 


Farmer 


Nathaniel Fisk 


26 


Sherburne 


Farmer 


Jacob Fullham 


37 


Weston 


Farmer 


Daniel Gardner 


26 


Brookline 


Farmer 


Samuel Glover 


26 


' Dorchester 


Farmer 


William Parker 


27 


Needham 


Cordwainer 


John Robinson 


23 


Boston 


Farmer 


Jonathan Torry 


19 


Seacomb 


Carpenter 


Thomas Tolman 


16 


Dorchester 


Farmer 


Nathan Whittemore 


20 


Dedham 


Farmer 



These fourteen men were all volunteers. Archives, Vol. 94, 

P- 357. 

A muster-roll dated October 11, 1756, states that Capt. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 431 

John Stebbins, who had commanded this company, died 
August 18, and that Lieut. WiUiam Humphrey became 
captain. Richardson and Lyon were sergeants, Knap and 
William Doggett were corporals, Beaverstock, Fisk, Parker, 
and Whittemore were dead, Clark was lame. Corporal 
Knap and Private Fullham (Fullam) were sick at Albany, 
Glover, Gardner and John Farrow were "sick", Stoil was 
the drummer, Elijah "Kenderick", Robinson, Torry and 
Tolman were still in active service. There are many other 
names in this roll, but not those of Needham men. Archives, 
Vol. 94, p. 496. 

From a roll of Capt. William Bacon's company were 
obtained the following facts: — Bacon was sick, as was 
Private Joseph Lyon. Lieut. Ephraim Jackson was at 
Albany, and Corporal John Woodcock at Fort Edward; 
both sick. Adam Blackman, David Fairbanks, Moses 
Felt and William Smith were in the service, John Smith 
was dead, Ebenezer Pratt had been "Killed or taken w'" 
Hodges." "Mustred" October 11, 1756. Archives, Vol. 
94, p. 454. Blackman was not a resident of Needham, but 
was later well known here as the builder of the Second 
Meeting-house. 

"Return of the Men inlifted or impreffed for his Maj- 
efty's Service within the Province of the Massachusetts- 
Bay, in the Regiment whereof Francis Brinley Esq; is 
Colonel, to be put under the immediate Command of His 
Excellency Jeffry Amherst, Esq.; General and Commander 
in Chief of His Majefty's Forces in North-America, for the 
Invafion of Canada". Then follow sixteen names, all of 
men resident in Needham except Gergery, who was of 
Weston: — John Bird thirty years old, had his own gun, 
Theophilus Richardson forty, Moses Pratt twenty-nine, 
John Kitley twenty-six, Christopher Capron twenty-six, 
Jabas Upham twenty-four, had his own gun, Ephraim 
Upham eighteen, son of Josiah, John Fellows twenty (John 
Kingsbery was his "Mafter"), Nehemiah Mills twenty, 



432 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

son of Nehemiah, had his own gun, Josiah Lyon thirty- 
six, Elijah Gergery twenty-one, Jonathan Wittemore twenty- 
one, had his own gun, Jeremiah Dewing forty-three, John 
Keaith thirty, Elijah Parker seventeen, son of James, had 
his own gun, Andrew Gardiner "Impressed". The first 
four enlisted on March 26, Lyon and Keaith on March 31, 
and all of the others on "Aprill 2". Richardson had been 
at "Lack Georg" in 1756 (1758?), and Pratt, Kitley, Ca- 
pron, Jabas Upham, Lyon, Gergery, Wittemore and Keaith 
had been "In the Campain at the Lacke" "y^ Leak Georg" 
in 1758. 

"Needham — Aprill 10^ 1759 Eleazar Kingsbery Cap*°". 
Archives, Vol. 97, p. 172. 

"A Roll of Officers and men in Cap* Thomas Cheevers 
Comp? in Col° Frye's Regiment and in service In the Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia after the first of January 1760 & the 
time of their discharge": — John Fellows, Moses Felt, John 
Kitley, John Keith, James Man, Moses Pratt, Theophilus 
Richardson, Ephraim Upham, Jonathan Whittemore, Josiah 
Lyon, Robert Smith. There were sixty-nine men in this 
company including Elijah Gregory. The Needham men 
had all been paid to the latter part of November, 1760, 
except Upham and Smith, the former having received his 
pay on September 13, and Smith to August 7. Archives, 
Vol. 98, p. 440. 

Another roll of this company, dated December 20, 1760, 
contains the name of Christopher Capron, but not the 
names of Josiah Lyon or Robert Smith. The men had 
enlisted in March and April. 1759, and had been in service 
from eighty-five weeks and five days to eighty-seven weeks 
and three days, and were entitled to from £38, 6s., 3|d. 
to £39, 6s., 7d., with the exception of Ephraim Upham, 
who was drowned September 13, 1760, which reduced the 
length of his service to seventy-five weeks and two days, 
and the amount due him to £33, 17s., 7d. Payments were 
made in supplies from time to time by the commissary 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 433 

or captain, and the roll gives the value of what the individ- 
uals had thus received. On the back of this document is 
endorsed "Muster Roll of Capt. Thomas Cheever & C° at 
Fort Cumberland from Mar. 31^.* 1759. to Nov^ 26. 1760. 
Boston Dec^ 23. 1760". Archives, Vol. 98, p. 215. 

"A Muster-RoU of the Company in His Majestys Ser- 
vice, Under Command of Eph™ Jackson Esq'": Captain 
Jackson was of Roxbury, and the following were of Needham : 
— Lieutenant William Humphrey, Sergeant Jonathan Ca- 
pron. Corporal Nathaniel Blackenton, Privates Job Cume- 
cher, Nathaniel Chamberlain, William Dunn, Nathan 
Fuller, and Josiah Hawes, the latter a son of Josiah Hawes. 
Elijah Kendrick and Baz^ Lyon appear to have been also 
credited to Needham. These men had enlisted between 
February 13 and April 14, 1760, and served till near the 
end of the year, some of them as late as December 3. The 
captain had £9 per month, the lieutenant £5, the sergeant 
£2, 3s., id. and the corporal £1, i8s., 7d. "The whole of 
Wages due to each Man" shows the captain entitled to £94, 
3s., 6d., the lieutenant to £52, 13s., 7d., and the others to 
from £13, 7s., 6d. to £19, 17s. The non-commissioned offi- 
cers and privates were all allowed for "120 miles 5/4" 
"Billiting Home, at 8d. per Diem", and, officers included, 
were charged six shillings each for baking their bread. The 
paymaster and commissary, and occasionally the captain, 
made trifling payments, in money or supplies, from time to 
time, all of which were duly charged and deducted from the 
total pay. Archives, Vol. 98, pp. 236, 237. 

"A Return of Men Inlifted for His Majeftys Service for 
the Total Reduction of Cainadae" has the names of the 
following Needham men, and tells when they were enlisted, 
and by whom: — Jonathan Capron, born in "Atelburey", 
27 years old, Nathaniel Chamberlain, born in Roxbury, 
41, Elijah Kindreck, born in Newton, 46, Andrew Gardner, 
born in Brookline, 47, Zebediah Pratt, 22, Nathan Farrow, 
enlisted by Mr. Warren, was a native of Lancaster, 18, 



434 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Joseph Whitmore, born in Newton, 28, Thomas Whitmore, 
born in Petersham, 17, Ebenezer Skinner was his "Mafter", 
Josiah Haws, 18, son of Josiah, Abijah Man, 18, son of 
Nathaniel, Nathaniel Blackinton, born in Attleborough, 31, 
Elisha Parker, 18. They were all enlisted by Lieutenant 
Humphrey, and were born in Needham, unless otherwise in- 
dicated. The dates of enlistment were all in February and 
March, 1760, and vary a few days from those given in the 
roll of Captain Jackson's company, but in the cases of Kin- 
drick and Haws the difference is more material. This roll 
states that both enlisted on February 18, but the previous 
roll gives the date as March 21 and 5 respectively. The 
dates of this return are March 5 and 21, 1760. Archives, 
Vol. 98, p. 115. 

On page 118, of the same volume, is another roll of a 
portion of this company, dated either in April, or March, 
and Capron is credited with enlisting on March 14, whereas 
on pages 236 and 237 it is the 21st, but on page 115 it is 
given as the 19th. 

The French and Indian War has been called the training- 
school of the officers and soldiers of the American Revolu- 
tion, and it is certain that during the long struggle between 
the English and French for supremacy on this Continent 
thousands of New England men, including some from Need- 
ham, received instruction in the art of war from able British 
officers, and that so far as experience was concerned the 
Americans were well prepared for the War for Independence. 
There were British commanders who were not popular or 
successful, but others were, and no one was more beloved 
than George, Third Viscount Howe, a brigadier-general 
who fell on July 6, 1758, at Ticonderoga, and of whom it 
was said "with him the soul of the army seemed to expire". 
Lord Howe was admired by the Massachusetts men, and 
our General Court appropriated £250, which were expended 
for his monument in Westminster Abbey. His younger 
brother, William, was a major of Light Infantry at the time 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 435 

Quebec was taken, and led the forlorn hope of twenty- 
four men that forced the entrenched path by which General 
Wolfe's army scaled the Heights of Abraham. In 1775 
Major-General Howe was the senior of the three generals 
ordered to Boston to assist General Gage, and was In com- 
mand at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and It Is said that his 
remarkable escape, when practically all of the other British 
officers were shot down, was due to the fact that behind 
the American breastworks were many veterans of the earlier 
war. General Howe was extremely reluctant to serve 
against the New Englanders, because of early associations 
with them, and had an Interview with the King In which 
he stated the situation, and asked to be excused, but 
His Majesty Insisted upon his joining General Gage In 
Boston. 

"A Muster Roll of the Company in His Majestys Ser- 
vice under the Command of Robert Fuller." Robert Fuller, 
"Cap*-", Zecherlah Mills, "Luii!-*", Nathaniel Bullard, 
"Enfig5 ", Henry Duing, "Sarg*", Jonathan Chandler 
" Sargt "^ John Allden, " Sarg* ", Jonathan Parker, " Corp" ", 
Jofiah Upham, "Corp'i", Jofeph Daniel, "Corpi^", Jofiah 
Ware, "Corp'i", Ephraim Bullard, "Drumi", Jofiah 
Woodward, "Drum"-", Jeremiah Gay, "Centenll", Jona- 
than Gay, Ifaac Mills, Nathanael Aiers, Samuel Bacon, 
Robert Fuller ji "by HIer", JelTe Kingsbery, Samuel 
Huntting, Stephen Huntting, Daniel Huntting, Ifrael 
Huntting, Jofiah Newel j^, David Mills, Uriah Coller, 
Nathanael Tolman, John Mills, William Mills j-% Jeremiah 
Eaton, Jonathan Mills, John pain ji, Ephraim pain, Thomas 
pain, Ithemar Smith, John FIfher j', Jacob Mills, Thomas 
Broad, Daniel Gardner, Jofiah Hawes, Daniel pratt ji, 
Samuel Daniel "by HIer", William Cook, Samuel Edmund, 
Nathan Edes "by HIer", Jacob Fullam, Archabald Smith, 
peter Sanders, Ebenezar Clark, John pepelo, Ebenezer 
pratt, Ebenezer Ware ji, Nathanael Blackinton, Samuel 
Gay, David Roblnfon, Jofhua parker, Samuel Richards, 



436 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Aaron Smith j^, Benjamin Ledothe, Samuel Ware, Robert 
Field, Seth Tombling.^ 

"The following foldiers Names" are in a list by them- 
selves: — William Allden, Samuel Mackintier, Reuben 
Dunton, Thomas Metcalfe, John Coller, Jonathan Whitte- 
more, William Smith, Thomas Mills, Israel Sanders, Com- 
fort Wheaton, David Dewing, Abraham Ireland, John 
Brown, Caleb Kingsbery "Clerk". The fourteen last 
named began their service on September 25, and served 
three days, with the exception of Dewing, Ireland, Brown 
and Kingsbery, who were credited with but two days, re- 
ceiving IS., lod. each, while the other ten had 2s., 9d. per 
man. Of the sixty-two men whose names are in the longer 
list, preceding the fourteen, all apparently had served five 
days. Captain Fuller was entitled to 9s., 2d., the lieu- 
tenant to 6s., 8d., the ensign and sergeants to 6s. id., the 
corporals to 5s., lod. each, and the privates to 4s., yd. per 
man. The total for the seventy-six men amounted to 
£16, i6s., 6d. with the addition of £18, 12s., 9d. for 
"Billeting." 

"Suffolk: fs April 6*^ 1748 Cap* Robert Fuller made 
Oath to the above Muster Roll of the Company under 
Subfiftance 348 days his Command and Marched in to 
Boston being 49 weeks and five days and were in Service 
the time Entered hereon, before me Jacob Wendall Jud: 
Pea: 18-12-9 

Robert Fuller Cap*°. 

Examined pr E. C." Archives, Vol. 92, pp. 64 and 65. 

MILITIA 

There is no record of the militia officers under the Second 
Charter until shortly before the Revolution, unless there 
was special service, and as our town clerks were apparently 
exact in their use of titles it seems needless to enumerate 

^ The spelling of the names in the muster-roll is followed verbatim in this list. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 437 

these early militia officers, all of whom are mentioned In 
this history In connection with civil affairs. Asa Kings- 
bury, who was elected town clerk on March 7, 1825, Ignored 
most of the military titles, and since his time but few of 
them have appeared In the records of town proceedings In 
Needham. 

Capt. John Fisher commanded the first military com- 
pany formed in Needham, and had evidently served In the 
militia before the town was Incorporated. He had been a 
soldier in King Philip's War. There Is an old undated letter, 
among other valuable papers that belonged to the late 
Honorable Enos H. Tucker, In which Robert Cook, Jr., 
expressed his thanks to the members of the military com- 
pany for electing him clerk about the year 1730 (?). 

"A List of The Military Soldiers In Natick under the 
Command of Cap* John Coolldge Taken By me this nine- 
teenth Day of Ap''Il: 1757:" gives the names of forty-two 
men, of whom sixteen were more or less connected with 
Needham: — Lieutenant Thomas Sawin, Ensign John 
Bacon, Sergeant Isaac Goodenow, Sergeant Isaac Under- 
wood, Corporal Ephralm Jennings, James Man, Henry 
Bacon, Elijah Kindreck, Samuel Morse, Jeremiah Bacon, 
Daniel Bacon, Thomas Hall, David Hall, Isaac Goodenow, 
Jr., Thomas Kendrick and Joseph Dun. There were also 
twenty-three "Alarm Men" at Natick, Including the 
minister, the Rev. Stephen Badger, Stephen Bacon, Jr., 
Robert Jennison, Moses Fisk, John Bacon, Daniel Dew- 
ing and Joseph Drury. Elijah Goodenow was the clerk for 
these companies. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 83. 

In June, 1771, Ebenezer Fisher was captain of the Need- 
ham company, Seth Wlllson the lieutenant and Timothy 
Kingsbery the ensign. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 385. 

SHAYS'S REBELLION 

On January 18, 1787, the town refused to vote money 
"to Incurldge the Men that are now Called for from y^ 



438 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

town of Needham", but declared that they "will Stand by 
Government in every thing that is Rational ". From a 
note-book of Capt. Jonathan Kingsbery it appears that 
both companies met at the East Meeting-house at the 
same hour that this town meeting was held, and that two 
days before the West Company had met at the West Meet- 
ing-house for the purpose of detaching fourteen men to 
rendezvous at Roxbury on the 19th, and that on the 226. 
the West Company met at Lieut. Ephraim Bullard's tavern 
and detached the following men for thirty days' service: — 
Seth Gould, Thomas Discomb, Jr., Solomon Brackett, 
Benoni Muzzey, Nathan Mills, William Kingsbery, David 
Trull, Jr., Abijah Stevens, Amos Morse, Daniel Hawes, 
David Bacon, Eliab Moore, Nathan Dewing and Abel 
Stevens. 

On February 6, 1787, an order came to detach nine men 
for six weeks' service, but it was countermanded on the 
same day. In 1787 the West Company had a number of 
parades and "viewing arms" near the West Meeting- 
house, which was their usual place of assembling. This 
parade ground was not too far from Bullard's tavern, 
where they occasionally met by order. Captain Kings- 
bery noted under date of June 5th and 19th, 1788, that 
twenty-six men came to the muster at the West Meeting- 
house "in Frocks." General Pond then commanded the 
brigade, which had a muster each autumn, sometimes at 
Walpole. 

There was evidently some sympathy with Shays in Need- 
ham, and it is remarkable that there was not more, as 
many of the farmers were heavily in debt, and had mort- 
gaged their farms to non-residents at high rates of interest. 

MILITIA 

In 1794 there were rumors of wars, which, as in these 
later days, involved expense. On August 4, 1794, Lieut, 
Oliver Mills, Capt. Robert Smith, Aaron Smith, Jr., Lemuel 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 439 

Mills, William Fuller, Esq., Capt. Ephraim Bullard and 
Moses Fisk were chosen to consider and report "refpecting 
an allowance being made to those men that are Drafted as 
minute men". On September 29 the town voted to "make 
up to those men that are Detach'd to hold themselves in 
readinefs as minute men or those that are or may be pro- 
cured to take their place twelve Dollars per month Includ- 
ing the Continental monthly pay from the time they march 
and are in Service"; also one dollar per man "for their 
time in pafsing mufter providing they Should be Called 
upon to pafs Mufter." An appropriation of £15 was voted 
"to procure Aminltlon to Supply the Deficiency". 

At the March meeting in 1800 the town voted to pay the 
militia of the town who paraded at Walpole on September 
30 and on October i last one dollar per day each for their 
time, and also to "provide powder Balls and flints a Quan- 
tity sufficient for the Melltia of said Town for the purpose 
of being Viewed Annually to remain the property of the 
Town to be Deposited in a Military Chest in charge of some 
man or men Chosen for that purpose ". At the May meet- 
ing these votes were reconsidered, but in March, 1802, the 
town voted to pay one dollar per day to each militia man 
who had performed duty at the muster at Walpole the pre- 
vious September. In 1809 one dollar per day was voted to 
the men, twenty in number, "that were detached and In- 
spected last fall". On July 20, 1812, it was voted "that 
the Soldiers that were detached from this Town in May 
last, should be paid, if called into active service and do 
serve While they serve and no longer ". Their pay was to 
be made up to $15 per month each, and $5 were to be paid 
when "first called Into active service, and the remainder in 
six Months after ". 

In 1815 the town voted "to give those soldiers that were 
detached in the year 18 14, belonging to the Town of Need- 
ham" $7 each in addition to the public pay, and in 1816 
the selectmen were to furnish the soldiers with arms and 



440 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

equipments. Thus meagre are the records of the town for 
the War of 1812. 

In the following list of Needham militia officers it may 
be assumed with reasonable certainty that the individuals 
had risen from the ranks and had served in the lower grades, 
which are not here mentioned, the name appearing only 
under the highest position that the man obtained. The 
names of the officers of the Norfolk Rifle Rangers will be 
found elsewhere. 

Unless otherwise indicated the regiment was attached 
to the Second Brigade of the First Division. 

Brigadier General: — Charles Rice 1828. 

Colonels: — William M<=Intosh, First Suffolk, 1776- , 
Warren Dewing 1825-7, Josiah N. Bird 1833, then living 
in Dedham, but while adjutant, 1830-1, he had been of 
Needham, William B. Parker 1835, Joshua Brown Lyon 
1838. All but Colonel M'=Intosh were of the First Regi- 
ment, which name superseded that of First Suffolk when 
Norfolk County was created in 1793. 

Lieutenant-Colonels: — Silas Alden 1788, Jonathan Kings- 
bury 1795-9, Moses Mann 1800-3, Chester Adams, 1819- . 

Majors: — Moses Bullard 1782-6, Jonathan Day 1794, 
Ebenezer Mcintosh 1803, '04, Joseph Warren Lyon 
1828-31. 

For many years there were two companies of militia in 
town, the East and the West. 

Captains, with the approximate dates when commis- 
sioned: — John Bacon 1780, West, Isaac Goodenow 1782, 
West, Ephraim Bullard 1796, or earlier. West, John Clap 
1796, Daniel Ware 1796, regimental adjutant, John Tolman 
1801, East, Nathan Dewing 1801, West, Michael Harris, 
Jr., 1803, East, Abel Stevens 1806, West, George Smith 
1807, West, Jonathan Fuller 181 1, West, Timothy Bullard 

1813, West, Elisha Lyon 1814, East, Lewis 1818, East, 

Ebenezer Fuller 1820, West, Reuben Ware 1821, Calvin 
Gay 1823, Hollis Mann 1824, East, Timothy Newell Smith 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 441 

1825, East/ Nathan White 1828, aid-de-camp, Abijah 
Greenwood 1829, East, William Pierce, Franklin Stevens 
183 1, West, Reuel Ware. 

Lieutenants: — William Fuller 1777, Josiah Upham 1778, 
Enoch Kingsbery 1780, Timothy Kingsbery 1780, Jona- 
than Gay 1782, Jonathan Smith 1789, Lemuel Mills 1797, 
George Bird 1798, Ephraim Ware 1801, Moses Garfield 
1804, Fisher Mills 1805, William Fuller 1814, Jonathan 
Newell 1816, Samuel Alden 1816, Lemuel Kingsbury 1823. 

The swords of Lieut. Oliver Mills and Lieut. Jonathan 
Gay were on exhibition in 191 1. 

Ensigns: — Michael Harris, Sr., Asa Cheney 18 18. Ap- 
parently all of the foregoing were officers of the First Suffolk 
Regiment, or First Regiment of Infantry, of the Second 
Brigade of the First Division. 

First Lieutenant and Paymaster of the Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Company: — The Honorable Emery 
Grover, joined the company in 1885, was elected first ser- 
geant of artillery in 1888, lieutenant in 1890, and has been 
the treasurer since 1893. 

Charles Seaver Courtenay was the commander of the 
British Military and Naval Veterans of Massachusetts 
from 1903 to 1905, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 
and acted as brigadier-general on the "British Sunday", 
during the visit to Boston of the Honorable Artillery Com- 
pany of London in 1903, when various organizations were 
under his command. He was also prominent when the 
43d Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's, came from the Dominion 
of Canada to Boston in 1905. There were other occasions 
on which Colonel Courtenay represented his command. 
In 1909 he was commander of the Imperial and Colonial 
Veterans. He became an officer of the 7th Royal Fusiliers 
early in 1855, and served nearly two years in the Crimea 



^ Captain Smith commanded the East Company at the laying of the corner 
stone of Bunker Hill Monument in 1825; his handsome' sword, scabbard and sash 
were conspicuous in the Historical Exhibit during the Bicentennial celebration. 



442 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

with this regiment. After six months at Aldershot they 
were ordered to India, and were there for three years, 
1857-9. Soon after the completion of his service in India, 
Mr. Courtenay resigned his commission, after six years in the 
same regiment, and landed in Canada on the day that Fort 
Sumter was first fired upon. Needham is indebted to him 
for the circle, or little park, near the railroad station. He con- 
structed it under adverse conditions, and for many years the 
citizens have annually raised money to adorn it with beautiful 
flowers. Colonel Courtenay died in Needham August 19, 
1909, in his seventy-fourth year, and had one of the few mili- 
tary funerals that the town has witnessed in modern times. 

Cavalry: — 

Captains: — Josiah Newell 1788, Josiah Newell 1810, 
Artemas Newell 181 1, '12, Jonathan Gay 1817, Curtis 
M'^Intosh 1825 '26, David Franklin Henderson March 2, 
1887-February 21, 1891. 

For a portrait and sketch of Captain Henderson see 
"Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts", published 
in 1899 or in 1900. 

Cornet: — Joseph Mudge, Jr., 1792. 

With the exception of Captain Henderson, who com- 
manded the Roxbury Horse Guards, all of the cavalry 
officers from Needham were of the uniformed company, 
which included residents of Dedham, Needham, Dover and 
Medfield. Until the Norfolk Rifle Rangers were organized 
this company of cavalry was the only uniformed company 
that had been connected with Needham. Cornet Timothy 
Kingsbery appears to have been the solitary cavalry officer 
resident in Needham in the days of the Province. 

MILITIA ITEMS FROM THE SELECTMEN'S ORDERS 

In 1801 $16 were granted "to pay Eight Soldiers of the 
Company of Cavelry belonging to Needham that did 
Military duty at Walpole" on September 30 and October 
I, 1800. Capt. Ephraim Bullard, of the West company, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 443 

had had thirty-four officers and soldiers at the muster, and 
Captain M*=Intosh, of the East company, fifty-three. All 
of the men were paid $2 each by the town. The next year 
the East company went to Walpole with fifty-six men and 
the cavalry included eleven from Needham. 

In 1800 Captains M<=Intosh and Dewing required nearly 
thirty pounds of powder for the parade at Dover, and for 
years the militia companies used from two to four quarter 
casks of powder annually. In addition to the powder, 
which cost fully fifty cents per pound, sometimes sixty cents, 
the town from time to time purchased a hundred weight 
of balls and five hundred flints. Beginning about 1810 the 
town paid, on the average, $5 per year to individuals who 
made cartridges for the two companies, and the East com- 
pany alone disposed of eight hundred cartridges one fall, 
at which season there was the brigade muster. Paper for 
these cartridges was another item, and such expenses con- 
tinued as long as the old militia law was in force. The 
powder was often bought of French and Everett, knapsacks 
in 1822 of William H. Brown, and the "equipments", 
"Camp Kittles", which latter cost considerable, were ob- 
tained from different Boston firms. In 1 8 14 a " Chest for the 
powder house" was purchased, and In 1824 forty belts for 
Capt. Mollis Mann's company cost $20. 

In 1820 the town voted to furnish each officer and soldier 
with twenty-four cartridges which were to be kept at the 
powder-house. In 183 1 the town dismissed article seven, 
which was "to see if the town will vote to abate the poll taxes 
of those persons who uniformed themfelves and did mili- 
tary duty in the Company Commanded by Cap* Franklin 
Stevens of said town, agreeable to the law of this Common- 
wealth, passed on the 12th day of March 1830", but the 
next year voted "that Soldiers who have Complyed with 
the law to intltle them to a remittance of a poll tax, should 
be benefit by it, whether the return from their Commanding 
officers was legal or not". 



444 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The Norfolk Rifle Rangers were provided with ammu- 
nition, and paid $2 each for services at the annual brigade 
muster. 

THE NORFOLK RIFLE RANGERS 

As this is the only uniformed military organization that 
Needham has ever had/ and as it was one of the "crack" 
militia companies of the State, it seems proper to give a 
somewhat detailed account of it. Fortunately its records 
are complete, and one of its officers, Lieut. Enos H. Tucker, 
an ideal assistant in investigating local history, lived to the 
close of 1907. 

Early in 1832 William B. Parker, who was much inter- 
ested in military matters, and forty-eight other young men 
petitioned the Governor and Council for authority to form 
"an independent corps of Rifle-men by the name of the 
Norfolk Rifle Rangers to be attached to the first Regiment 
second Brigade first Division". They stated that there 
was then but one military company in Needham, the other 
having been disbanded. The petition went through the 
usual course and was granted, and they were ordered to 
meet at Estes Kimball's tavern in West Needham on April 
26, on which occasion they chose William B. Parker captain, 
Paul Dewing first lieutenant, John Welles Lyon ensign; 
there were also five sergeants and seven corporals. Ben- 
jamin W. Parker was clerk, Otis Jennings treasurer, Henry 
Starr surgeon; of the various committees was that on 
"Musick," which consisted of Samuel M'=Intosh and Eben 
Flagg. 

On the first Tuesday in May the Company met at My- 
rick's Hotel. Captain Parker and four others were requested 
to purchase "Rifles and Uniforms": "each member should 
have a priveledge of owning and keeping his Rifle". It 

^ It is true that the cavalry company that flourished in the years following the 
Revolution had a uniform, but it included men from Dedham and Dover, and 
perhaps other towns, although Needham had a large representation. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 445 

was also voted that "Belts be of black patent leather", 
"barrells of the Rifles stamped", "black plume sixteen 
inches high", "brafs in centre of the caps, and the cord to 
be all gilt, the same braid on the top as on the coat", "cuffs 
of the coat be the same as the CityGaurds", "pantaloons 
be the same as the pattern only fuller in front", "stocks 
be black bombazeen ", "that the buttons of the company 
have N R R and, 'On Hand' inserted on them, likewise that 
the pantaloons have a leaf on the front", "drills shall be with 
guns or rifles until further orders", "music shall have red 
coats white pantaloons and leather caps". A committee 
of three was chosen to "inspect and prove the Rifles". 

It was their intention to make their first public appearance 
on the 4th of July, but the uniforms were not ready, and it 
had to be deferred to September 13th. There were several 
meetings during the summer, subscriptions were asked for, 
fines were imposed for absence from drill, or coming late, 
and one man was discharged for slandering the corps. On 
August II they had accepted the "knapsacks according to 
the pattern", "the thirteen inch black plume", and voted 
that the "pantaloons shall be plain". On the 25th they 
voted "that Capt. Parker be authorized to provide as good 
a dinner as the season can afford when we shall first appear 
in uniform". On September 13, 1832, the Rangers met at 
8 A.M. with "Knapsacks canteens and all other military 
equipments complete", and marched to the Lower Falls, 
where they "partook of a eolation served up by Peter 
Lyon, and then March'd to the Uper Falls and partook of 
another served up by Owen Colburn, then Marched to 
Estes Kimballs and partook of a dinner served up by E 
Kimball and Furnised by some of our Townsmen". On 
Wednesday, October 3, they went to muster for the first 
time. The company met at Myrick's Tavern at 8 o'clock 
in the morning, paraded about town, and then marched to 
Dedham where they arrived at noon, and had dinner at 
Alden's Hotel. After the dinner they proceeded to Walpole, 



446 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

a usual place for brigade musters, and "at the edge of the 
Town was met by the Walpole Light Infantry and escorted 
by them to our encamping ground where we piched our Tents 
for the night ".^ 

In April, 1833, the Rangers voted "To send the rifles, to 
M' Pratt of Roxbury to be stained". During the early 
years of this company there were many drills, and parades 
with collations. They took especial pride in their music, to 
obtain which they assessed themselves a dollar, or more, 
per member on every important occasion. Their refresh- 
ments, which usually cost from seventy-five cents to one 
dollar per man for a day, were supplied for the muster in 
September, 1833, by Artemas Newell, but often by the tav- 
ern-keepers. They met impartially at Myrick's and Hoogs's 
Taverns and at Slack's Hotel.^ At the muster in 1833 
they reported at Harvey Clapp's Hotel in Walpole at 
5.30 A.M. On September 15, 1833, they had celebrated 
their second anniversary with a parade, and banquet at 
Myrick's Tavern; salutes were fired, presumably with some 
of the powder that the town occasionally granted them. 
Ordinarily their music consisted of a drum, fife and two 
bugles, but at muster they had a small band. At the muster 
on October 7, 1835, when the Rangers rendezvoused at 
Henderson's in Medway at 6 o'clock A.M., the music 
committee, Samuel M'^Intosh and Artemas Newell, provided 
a band of eight pieces, and it cost the members $5.44 each 
for music, etc. At this muster "the Company volunteered 
with the remainder of the Battalion to Skirmish with the 
Indians" under the command of Colonel Holbrook. 

^ Lieutenant Tucker related that on the occasion of one of the musters at Wal- 
pole, Robert Smith arrived at Dedham very lame in consequence of wearing new 
boots, and when the time came to resume the march to Walpole, Mr. Smith was 
advised to pour a pint of rum into his boots. He had just begun to do this when 
the captain commanded the men to "fall in", and in his haste Smith poured the 
entire pint into one boot; as the result he reached muster with one foot in good 
condition, but with the other in a state that rendered him unfit for service. 

^ In 1835 Moses Crafts succeeded John W. Slack as the proprietor of the hotel 
lately known as the Elmwood Park Hotel, and for a time called it "Crafts Inn". 
Mr. Blanchard kept this hotel in 1838, and Colonel Shepard in 1840. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 447 

The annual muster occurred early in October, and the 
Rangers usually left Needham the day before. On Sep- 
tember 19, 1843, with eight pieces of music, they marched to 
the railroad station, Grantville, "and rode to Boston in the 
cars." "From the Boston Depot, marched to the Common, 
were inspected and reviewed and performed the regular 
duties of the day. Partook of dinner at the Western Rail- 
road House at 75 cents per man". They returned to Need- 
ham in the cars, and marched to the armory, which the town 
allowed them in the town building, and broke ranks after 
"A vote of thanks, was passed to the Musicians for the hon- 
ourable and Satisfactory manner with which they performed 
their duty". On May 29, 1844, they voted "To have the 
company training two days in succefsion and go on an excur- 
sion", which resulted in a target shooting match on Sep- 
tember 17, which was won by Samuel Pratt. The target 
was presented by Lieut. Charles E. Alden, who also gave a 
pencil as a prize for the "best three shots". On the i8th 
they were refreshed at the Upper Falls by Lieutenant Randall 
and A. H. Small, and then marched to West Newton, and 
dined in the "Newton Railroad House" for fifty cents 
each. They went back to Needham in the cars. They had 
five pieces of music from Newton Upper Falls, and Messrs. 
Bartlett and Cutting of the Brigade Band. On the 24th they 
started from their armory at 5 A.M., and took the cars for 
Boston, where they "Formed in Brigade line and performed 
the usual duties Partook of dinner at Pantheon Hall at 
75 cents per man". On this occasion they had five pieces 
of music from the Upper Falls and two from Fitchburg. 

On October 19, 1843, a "celebration of the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis" was held near the junction of Washington 
Street and Oakland Street in West Needham. Brig.-Gen. 
Charles Rice personated Lord Cornwallis and Col. Warren 
Dewing was General Washington. The armies were great 
numbers of men and boys from Needham and the neighbor- 
ing towns, with a few militia companies, including one 



448 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

from Waltham. Capt. Timothy Newell Smith of the 
Rangers declined to participate, and First Lieut. Charles E. 
Alden was on the staff of one of the commanders as quarter- 
master, consequently the command of the Rangers devolved 
upon Second Lieut. Enos H. Tucker. Col. Richard M. 
Johnson, Vice-President of the United States, 1837-41, was 
a spectator, as were Henry Wilson and Nathaniel P. Banks. 
On September 14, 1840, the company had voted to accept 
"of Muskets untill we can obtain Rifles from the State and 
to wear white Pants while we use the muskets", and also 
to get gray fatigue caps. The next July the Rangers voted 
to "have the State arms on the caps instead of the eagles". 
There were fines for defective equipment, such as "priming 
Wires and Brushes", as well as for coming late to drills, 
which were usually in the daytime. At times some members 
furnished substitutes. Charles A. Hines, a member of the 
company, had charge of the armory. On May 25, 1841, a 
committee of three, Including Enos H. Tucker, Jr., who 
had joined on May 17, 1840, was appointed "to see if the 
Select Men will provide 20 Balls and a quarter of a pound 
powder for each member to be kept at the Armory"; they 
reported success on September 6th. At the May meeting 
the Rangers had also voted "to have the Plumes shortened 
to ten inches before next meeting". At the meeting on 
July 2, 1841, their new "pants" were to cost $3.50 per pair, 
and a committee was to get "pompoons for Company". 
Lieutenant Randall had presented them with a sign for 
their armory. In 1843 they wisely took measures to secure 
the uniforms of those who left the company. Dippers were 
a part of the equipment. After flourishing for more than 
ten years the interest in the company declined, and on May 
6, 1845, the clerk was directed "to return Rifles and Equip- 
ments which belong to the State to the Arsenal: for which 
service he shall receive the balance of funds now in his 
hands". The volume of records of the Rangers, in the 
custody of the town clerk of Needham, contains the lengthy 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 449 

constitution with a preamble and twenty-six articles. There 
were amendments in 1842, and the pages bear the signatures 
of seventy members of the company, including many famil- 
iar names: — Matthias Mills, Galen Orr, George E. Eaton, 
Elisha Hiram Lyon, Augustus Fuller, George L. Kingsbury. 

At the election of officers of the Rangers it was the custom 
for a major to preside, and sometimes Maj. Paul Dewing, 
their former captain, was the officer selected. 

The successors of the original officers were: 

Captains: — Paul Dewing August 17, 1833, vice Capt. 
Parker become lieutenant-colonel, John J. Gorham April 12, 
1836, vice Capt. Dewing elected major, (Capt. Gorham was 
chosen orderly sergeant when the company was organized), 
Russell Smith May 3, 1839, he had then commanded for 
some months, and it is probable that Capt. Gorham, who is 
described as a *^'tall, dark man", had removed from town, 
Thomas Orr September 20, 1841, who had then commanded 
for some months, Timothy Newell Smith May 31, 1843. 

First Lieutenants: — John W. Lyon August 17, 1833, 
Russell Smith September 21, 1836, William Gay May 3, 

1839, Thomas Orr May 26, 1840, Timothy Newell Smith 
September 20, 1841, Charles E. Alden May 31, 1843. 

Ensigns: — John J. Gorham August 17, 1833, William 
Gay April 12, 1836, Thomas Orr May 3, 1839. 

At the election on May 26, 1840, no ensign was chosen, 
but both a second and a third lieutenant. 

Second Lieutenants: — Timothy Newell Smith May 26, 

1840, who joined the company the same day, Charles E. Alden 
September 20, 1841, Enos H. Tucker, Jr., May 31, 1843. 

Third Lieutenants: — Charles E. Alden May 26, 1840, 
Enos H. Tucker, Jr., September 20, 1841, Benjamin F. 
Randall May 31, 1843. 

Clerks: — John J. Gorham April 6, 1833, Lauren Kings- 
bury August 17, 1833, Enos H. Tucker, Jr., September 3, 
1840, Enoch Brown Winch September 20, 1841, Charles T. 
Tucker May 31, 1843. 



tCfie WBiax of tfje American a^ebolution 

Prior to the Convention at Dedham in September, 1774, 
there is nothing in our records to indicate the approaching 
storm, except a vote of the town on December 22, 1773, 
not "to join with the Committee of Correfpondence of the 
Town of Bofton; Relating to the Importation of Tea". On 
March 23, 1775, however, the town voted that the collec- 
tors of the Province taxes should thereafter pay them to 
Henry Gardner, Esq., who had been appointed by the Pro- 
vincial Congress, and not to the Honorable Harrison Gray, 
the agent of the Crown. 

The names of the delegates from Needham to the Pro- 
vincial Congresses, and to the various Conventions, are 
given elsewhere in this history. 

On May 29, 1775, Capt. Robert Smith was chosen a Com- 
mittee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. The names 
of his successors, with the dates when they were chosen, 
are: — John Slack, Michael Metcalf and William Smith, 
on March 11, 1776, William Smith, Lieut. Ebenezer Fuller 
and Joseph Daniell, Jr., on March 10, 1777, Josiah Eaton, 
Henry Dewing and Ebenezer Newell on March 9, 1778, and 
re-elected on March 11, 1779, Moses Man, Aaron Smith, Jr., 
and Eleazer Fuller on March 13, 1780, Crowner Nathaniel 
Fisher, Capt. Robert Smith and Capt. William Smith on 
April 5, 1 78 1, who perhaps held over, as there is no record 
of the choice of such a committee in 1782, and John Slack, 
Robert Fuller, Jr., and Aaron Smith, Jr., on May 12, 1783. 
There is but little on record of the doings of these committees, 
although the opposition to the British rule largely centred 
in them. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 451 

LEXINGTON ALARM 

On the morning of April 19, 1775, the news that the 
British were on their way to Concord was brought to Bul- 
lard's Tavern, and the alarm was given by Ephraim Bullard, 
the tavern-keeper, or by his son of the same name, who 
fired a gun on BuUard's Hill. The West Company of 
militia rendezvoused at this tavern, great fires were made 
in the house, and bullets were moulded, the women assist- 
ing. The West Company was the first from Needham to 
arrive at the scene of the conflict. In "The Leg" the alarm 
was sounded by the trumpet of Abel, or Nero, Benson, a 
negro. The news was received in East Needham about 
nine o'clock in the morning, from a messenger who rode 
through the town on his way to Dedham, and the militia 
company was drawn up in their minister's east driveway, 
as the ammunition was then kept in his house. The Rev. 
Mr. West addressed them earnestly, and gave his bless- 
ing. In the cellar of Mr. West's house, now the home of 
the writer, is a large brick chimney closet, which may have 
been the place where the military "Stores" were deposited. 
At Watertown the East Company stopped for refreshments, 
but reached West Cambridge in time to join in harassing 
the King's troops on their retreat.^ 

Seven Needham men were killed or wounded at West 
Cambridge: — Sergeant Elisha Mills, forty years of age, 
blacksmith, lived on what is now South Street, near Webster 
Street. The tradition is that he stepped out of a barn to 
fire at the enemy, and fell riddled with bullets. By the 
kindness of his neighbor, "Hawk" Aaron Smith, who 

* In my childhood I was often taken to call upon a very ancient blind lady, Miss 
Agnes Austin, who was born in Charlestown, and lived there for many years, and 
who delighted to tell her visitors that she saw the British troops under Earl Percy 
and Lieut.-Col. Smith on their return at the close of the memorable nineteenth 
of April, 1775. A considerable number of the soldiers had thrown away their 
red coats and much of their equipment. The first legacy that I ever received 
was under the will of this venerable lady, who was a distant connection of my 
family. — G. K. C. 



452 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

afterward married his widow, his body was brought to 
Needham in a cart, on the 20th, and buried in the old 
graveyard. The others who died that day were interred 
at West Cambridge. 

Jonathan Parker, also of the East Company, was twenty- 
eight years old, and lived a short distance south of the 
present Pierce house on Charles River Street, but on the 
other side of the road, a wooden tablet marking the site. 
He literally left his plough in the field, west of his house, 
to answer the call of duty, was surprised at West Cam- 
bridge by a flank guard at a barn, and shot while attempt- 
ing to reach the woods. The Parker School, near his home, 
is named for him. 

John Tolman of the East Company, while lying behind 
a wall with several others, was discovered by a flank guard. 
Those not disabled stood up, and Tolman twice tried to 
fire at the main column, but the powder flashed in the pan, 
although after his first failure he had cleared the vent with a 
pin from his shirt collar. He then found himself in a cross 
fire, and was struck between the shoulders by a bullet, which 
later was extracted from his breast, and is still preserved. 
After long suffering he recovered, and died in Fairhaven, 
Vt., in 1835, ^g^d eighty-two years. He lived on the "Gay 
Farm" on Central Avenue. In 1906, or 1907, his remains 
and those of his wife were brought to Needham, and in- 
terred in the Tolman lot. A large white gravestone and a 
footstone came with the bones, and there is now an S. A. R. 
marker on his grave. His great-granddaughter, Mrs. Anna 
M. Tolman Pickford, bore the expense of the removal. 

None of the West Company were seriously hurt, but 
of the Minute Men First Lieut. John Bacon, aged fifty-four 
years, was killed on a ledge of rock in Menotomy. He was 
with "Old Hawes," a former comrade in the French and 
Indian War, and Bacon had been lying behind a wall with 
his powder in his hat. Suddenly Hawes said, "Run or you 
are dead, here 's the guard ", and as they attempted to get 




TOLMAN-GAY HOUSE 




MANN-BLACKMAN HOUSE 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 453 

over the wall Bacon was shot near the third button of his 
waistcoat. The next day his son, John, recognized his 
father's old striped hat on a roll of clothes in a school-house 
at West Cambridge. Lieutenant Bacon's house, now a 
tenement and much changed, stands on North Main Street, 
near Bacon Street, and west of the watering trough. He 
was an energetic man, and frequently had eight or ten In- 
dians and negroes, and four yokes of oxen working on his 
farm. 

Nathaniel Chamberlain, another Minute Man, and a 
French and Indian War veteran, was slain, aged fifty-six 
years. 

Amos Mills, a cousin of Elisha, lived on what is known 
as the Abijah Stevens place on Blossom Street. He was 
a Minute Man, and was killed at West Cambridge, aged 
forty-three years. 

Lieut. Eleazer Kingsbery, of the Minute Men, was 
struck in the leg by a bullet, but it did not penetrate his 
leather breeches. 

The five men killed at West Cambridge all left widows 
and large families. 

On November 10, 1845, Rufus Mills, Israel Whitney and 
General Rice were chosen by the town a committee with 
reference to a monument to commemorate these five men, 
but nothing was accomplished until Mrs. Sarah Eames 
Mills Kingsbury and other ladies raised the necessary 
money in 1851, and placed on the hill in the old graveyard 
the handsome granite monument inscribed with the five 
names, and the words "For Liberty they died." 

The monument at West Cambridge (Arlington) is a 
granite shaft marking the common grave of twelve men 
slain on April 19, 1775. This memorial was erected in 
1848, and bears on the east side an inscription giving the 
names of three Cambridge men, but a temporary tablet of 
later date on the west side has the names of the other nine, 
including the four from Needham. 



454 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



LEXINGTON ALARM LISTS 

The muster-rolls of the two companies of militia, and 
of the Minute Men from Needham were copied verbatim, 
at an expenditure of much time, with the purpose of re- 
producing them in full, but the writer has reluctantly de- 
cided that it is not feasible to do so, owing to the many 
columns, the great number of figures, the abbreviations 
with superior letters, and the profuse punctuation. 

Muster-roll of the Minute Men 

"A Muster Roll of the Travel and Service of a Company 
of Alarm Men in Needham under the Command of Caleb 
Kingsbery in Colo" Aaron Davis's Regiment That March'd 
in Consequence of the Alarm Made on the 19^^ of April 
1775. Which is as Followeth Viz.*" 

Then follows the elaborate muster-roll referred to with 
these forty names: — 



Caleb Kingsbery, Capt. 
John Bacon, 1st Lieut. 

Killed. 
Eleazer Kingsbery, 2d Lieut. 

Wounded. 
Daniel Gould, Serg. 
Samuel Daggett, Serg. 
Isaac Underwood, Serg. 
Ephraim Stevens, Serg. 
Samuel Brown, Corp. 
Samuel Daniell, Corp. 
Thomas Hall, Corp. 
Ephraim Bullard, Drummer. 

Privates : 
John Fuller 
Ezekiel Richardson 
Jefse Kingsbery 



Privates : 
Joseph Mudg 

Henry Dewing 

Josiah Ware 
Stephen Huntting 
David Hall 
Jonathan Smith 
Jacob Parker 
Moses Felt 
David Smith 
Thomas Discomb 
Ifaac Goodenow Ju' 
Abijah Mills 
Samuel Greenwood 
Josiah Lyon 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 455 

Privates : 

Theodore Broad Ithamar Smith 

John Edes Ju' Henry Gale 

Nathan^ Kingsbery. Nehemiah Mills Ju' 
Nathan?' Chamberla Killed David Hagar 

Amos Mills Killed Jonas Mills 

Seth Willson Elijah Houghton 

Many of them had travelled thirty miles, some thirty- 
six, and Mudge only nine miles, for which they were paid 
one penny per mile. This was for the distance to and from 
their homes. Most of them were in service two days, at 
IS., 5d., |f. per day, but of the last seven in the Hst all 
but Houghton served from six to nine days at the same pay 
per day. The total claim for the company amounted to 
£16, i8s., lod., 2f. 

"Needham March 14: 1776 

Caleb Kingsbery 
Colony of the Mafs* bay March 15 1776 Captain Caleb 
Kingsbery within named made Solem Oath to the truth of 
the within Roll by him Subscribed According to the beft 
of his Knowledge 

Before Sam* Holten Jur peace thro' the Colony 

Compared with the Original and therewith agrees 
E. Starkweather 1 „ 
j'^^ Turner J 

In Council Ap: 22^-iyy6 Read & allowed & ordered that 
a Warrant be drawn on the TreasT for £16: 18: 102 in full 
of the within Roll 

Needham Perez Morton D Sc 

Cap* Caleb Kingsbery 
Roll-Copy 

£16:18 :io|" Archives, Vol. 12, p. 164. 



456 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Muster-roll of the East Company of Militia 

"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of 
Cap* Robert Smith in Colonel William Heaths Regiment 
Needham January 2. 1776." 



Robert Smith, Capt. 
Oliver Mills, Lieut. 
Silas Alden, Ensign 
Elisha Mills, Serg. Killed 
Jon* Gay, Serg. 
Tho. Fuller, Serg. 
Eleaz. Fuller, Serg. 
Sam Alden, Corp. 
Sam Fifher, Corp. 
Eliakim Cooke, Corp. 
Eben Day, Corp. 
Eben Clark, Drummer 
Josiah Filher, Fifer 

Privates: 
John Mcintosh 
Jon* Parker Killed 
Isaac Shepard 
Josiah Eaton Jun 
Sam Ware Jun 
Nath. Willson 
Rich^ Blincowe 
Mofes Eaton 
Jonathan Ware 
Jon? Kingsbery 
Sam Paine 

Theop. Richardson Jr. 
Solomon Fuller 
Nath Filher Jn 
Ezra Mills 
Aaron Ayres 



Privates : 
Philip Mills 
William Eaton 
Lem Eaton 
Aaron Fifher 
Lemi Mills 
Tim? Fifher 
Rob* Fuller J' 
Joseph Colburn 
Joseph Colburn J' 
Jere Woodcock 
Jerm Eaton 
Elmon Tolman 
Eben Wilkinson 
Sam Edes 
Tim? Dewing 
Benj? Ware 
Amos Fuller J"" 
Benj? Mills Jun' 
Joseph Stowell 
Aaron Paine 
Josiah Lyon Jun 
Daniel Wight 
Joseph Ware 
Eben Richardson 
Thomas Fifher 
David Newell 
Simeon Fifher 
Elijah Fuller 
John Tolman 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



457 



Privates: 
Nathan Newell 
John Bird 
W"? Smith 
Eben Clark 
Sam Wight 
Tim<? Broad 
Josiah Newell Jr 
Josiah Dewing 
Aaron Smith Jr 



David Mills 
Uriah Coller 
Phlnehas Coller 
John Clark 
Theop. Richardson 
Rich4 O brian 
John Kitley 
Rich? Richardson 

Total, seventy-five men 



Most of these men had travelled thirty miles from their 
homes, including the return, and were paid the same as the 
Minute Men for travel and service, but many of them 
served fourteen or sixteen days, which was a much longer 
time than the Minute Men served. Captain Smith was 
paid 4s., 6d. per day. This muster-roll was duly sworn to 
by Captain Smith before Josiah Newell "Justice peace", 
on January 2, 1776, compared with the "Original" by the 
Committee, and "allowed" by the Council on March 19, 
1776. The total amount was S.^'J., 17s., id., 3f. Archives, 
Vol. 13, p. 92. 

Muster-roll of the West Company of Militia 

"A Roll of Cap* Aaron Smiths Company of Militia who 
marched in Confequance of the Alarm Made on the 19*^ 
of April laft in the Regiment whereof William Heath Efq.' 
was then Col: as Follows Viz — " 



Aaron Smith, Capt. 
Moses Bullard, Lieut. 
Josiah Upham, Ensign 
John Bacon, Serg. 
William Fuller, Serg. 
Samuel Kilton, Serg. 
Joseph Daniell, Serg. 
Enock Kingsbery, Corp. 



Jonathan Smith, Corp. 
Joseph Drury, Corp. 
Jeremiah Daniell, Corp. 
Joseph Mudg, Drummer 

Privates : 
Jonathan Whittemore Jun' 
Stephen Bacon Jun.' 
Isaac Bacon 



458 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Privates: 
Moses Fuller 
David Trull 
Samuel Bracket 
Lemuel Bracket 
Zebadiah Pratt 
John Slack 
Samuel Baley 
John Smith Jun' 
Daniel Huntting Jun' 
Jofeph Haws 
Mofes Daggett 
William Kingsbery 
Daniel Ware 
Timothy Huntting 
Samuel Daggett Jun' 
Seth Broad 
Benjamin Mills Jun' 
Jonathan Kingsbery 
Samuel Pratt 
Joseph Kingsbery 
Samuel Woodcock 
Jonathan Dunn 
Jeremiah Smith 
Ifachar Pratt 
Abner Felt 
Philip Floyd 
Timothy Bacon 
Samuel M^Intire 



Solomon Flagg 
Peter Jenison 
Joseph Kingsbery Jun' 
John BuUard 
Jeremiah Gay 
Eliphalet Kingsbery Jun' 
Jonathan Huntting 
Joseph Haws Jur 
Aaron Smith Jun' 
Ebenezer Huntting 
Amos Edes 
Jeremiah Edes 
Samuel Smith 
Moses Huntting 
Collins Edes 
John Smith the 3^ 
Ithamar Smith Junf 
John Fuller 
Luke Mills 
Uriah Coller JuT 
Seth Pratt 
Moses Bacon 
Israel Huntting 
William Huntting 
Samuel Ward 
Noah Millard 
Abiel Smith (of Natick) 
Total, seventy men 



Most of these men had travelled thirty-six miles from 
their homes, and returning to them, and had served a week 
or more. Captain Smith and Privates Moses Daggett and 
Samuel Pratt were on duty fifteen days. The total claim 
amounted to £50, 7s., 2d., which was sworn to by the Cap- 
tain on March 15, 1776, and allowed by the Council on April 
2, 1776. Archives, Vol. 13, p. 98. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 459 

SIEGE OF BOSTON 1775. EIGHT MONTHS MEN 

The muster-roll of "Capt. Mofes Whiting's Company in 
y^ 36 • Reg* of Foot in the Continental army Encampt in 
Cambridge in Fort N° 2 October 5, 1775 ", bears the names of 
the following Needham men: — Lieut. Aaron Pain "Engaged 
April y^ 19", Sergeants John Macintash, John Tolman and 
Joseph Ware, Corporal Ebenezer Clark, all of whom enlisted 
the first week in May, Privates David Mills, Thomas Fisher, 
Daniel Wight, Ebenezer Richardson, Michael Bacon, Elijah 
Fuller, Josiah Lyon, Josiah Fisher, Simeon Fisher, Uriah 
Coller, Phineas CoUer, Thomas Fisk? "gone to Canady" 
and John Brown "Deceised August y® 21 ". Total, eighteen 
men. Archives, Vol. 56, p. 244. 

Samuel Ware was also at Cambridge, October 17, 1775, 
serving under Capt. Abner Craft and Lieut.-Col. Bond, 37th 
Foot. Archives, Vol. 56, p. 255. Michael Bacon, who en- 
listed on June 15, Andrew Gardner, on May 12, and John 
Hastings, on June 23, discharged on July 28, were all from 
Needham, had travelled twelve miles, and Bacon and Hast- 
ings had furnished their own guns. These three men were 
in Capt. Daniel Whiting's Company, of Colonel Brewer's 
Regiment, and Bacon and Gardner were of this company on 
August I, 1775. Archives, Vols. 16 and 56, pp. 72 and 32. 
Aaron Motton of Needham was a corporal in the company 
of Capt. Joseph Morse of Natick, August, 1775. Archives, 
Vol. 56, p. 176. The men who enlisted for eight months, 
ending on January i, 1776, were to receive from the "Col- 
ony " each a coat as additional bounty, and the receipts 
for these coats, or their equivalent, are in the "Coat Rolls". 
Archives, Vol. 57. 

The muster-roll of Captain Samuel Kilton of Needham, 
October, 1775, included the following Needham men: — ist 
Lieutenant John Bacon, Sergeants John M'^Intosh, Solomon 
Flagg, Daniel Gould, Enoch Kingsbery and Peter Jeneson, 



460 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Corporals John Tolman, Joseph Kingsbery, John Bullard 
and Jeremiah Gay, Fifer Joseph Bullard, Privates Philip 
Floid, Seth Wilson, Jonathan Huntting, Stephen Bacon, 
Henry Gale, Jonas Mills, Joseph Hawes, Aaron Smith, Eben- 
ezer Huntting, Nehemiah Mills, Nehemiah Mills, Jr., Amos 
Edes, Samuel Smith, Moses Huntting, Collins Edes, John 
Smith, John Clark, Ithamar Smith, Ithamar Smith, Jr., John 
Fuller, Luke Mills, Seth Pratt, Jonathan Bacon, Josiah 
Hawes, Theophilus Richardson, Eliphalet Kingsbery, Jr., 
John Kitley, James Faris (an Irishman, and a nephew of 
Capt. William Faris), Uriah Coller, Jonas Lewis, Moses 
Bacon, Israel Huntting, John Fuller, Jr., and Jeremiah Edes. 
Total, forty-six men. Archives, Vol. 56, p. I74|. 

Enoch Johnson was paid £6, 13s., 4d. by the town for 
serving eight months in 1775. From the town book under 
the heading "The Names of thofe men that Entered the 
Service April 1775 and Served Eight months at the Lines 
Near Bofton" six more names are added to those in the 
muster rolls, viz., Aaron Smith, 3d, Samuel Ward, Aaron 
Moulton (probably identical with Aaron Motton of Captain 
Morse's company), Jacob Hemingway, Uriah Coller, Sr. 
(perhaps the man named in Captain Kilton's roll), and 
Jacob Parker, Jr., all of whom, except Parker, were paid 
£6, 13s., 4d. each, a total for fifty-six Eight Months Men of 
£366, 13s., 4d. The names of Longley Bartlett and John 
English are erased from this list in the town book, but Bart- 
lett served under Colonel Mcintosh, and was at Fishkill. 

The State Archives, Vol. 206, p. 239, record a Resolution 
of the Council on August 17, 1775, in favor of Colonel 
M'^Intosh for £6, 12s., I4d..^ for twenty-eight "Narrow Axes 
and for Collecting and tranfporting the fame to Watertown". 

DORCHESTER HEIGHTS 

"A Copy of Cap'^ Rob- Smith's of Needham Pay Roll, for 
him and his Comp^ of Malitia afsisting in taking pofsefsion 
of Dorchefter Hill in March 1776". 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 461 

Besides Captain Smith the company included Lieutenant 
Silas Alden, Sergeants Jonathan Gay, Thomas Fuller, 
Eleazer Fuller and (erased) Alden, Corporals (erased) Fisher, 
Eliakim Cook, John M'=Intosh and Ebenezer Day (the word 
"Corp^" is erased by time and wear, but apparently these 
four men were corporals). Privates Richard Blencoe, Lemuel 
Colburn, Henry Dewing, Timothy Fisher, Jeremiah Eaton, 
Jr., Joslah Eaton, (erased) Eaton, (erased) Eaton, Nathaniel 
Fisher, Jr., Solomon Fuller, Amos Fuller, Jr., Robert Fuller, 
Asa Gay, Jonathan Kingsbery, Moses Man, David Mills, Jr., 
Ezra Mills, Enoch Mills, Reuben Newell, Samuel Payn, 
Nathaniel Tolman, Samuel Wight, Jonathan Ware, Samuel 
Ware, Jr., Ephraim Ware, Nathaniel Wilfon, Timothy Broad 
and Samuel Edes. Total, thirty-eight men. Each man had 
travelled twenty-four miles from his home and returning at 
one penny per mile, and Captain Smith was entitled to 
£1, 8s., lid., 2f, for services and travel. Lieutenant Alden 
to £1, OS., id., the sergeants to los., 3d., 2f., each, the cor- 
porals to 9s., 8d., 3f., each, and privates to 9s., 2d., 3f. 
Total for the company, £19, 6s., iild. Sworn to by the 
Captain before Joslah Newell, J. P., and was allowed in 
Council on June 5, 1777. 

In May, 1776, Capt. Robert Smith was commissioned 
captain of the 4th Company in Colonel Mcintosh's Regiment, 
which was the First Suffolk Regiment of militia. Captain 
Smith's last active service appears to have been from Febru- 
ary to May, 1778, when he was captain of a company of 
Guards at Boston and Dorchester, under Maj.-Gen. Heath. 

"A Roll of the west Company of Melltia in Needham 
in Col° W'?. M° Intoshs' Reg* Command^^ By Cap* Aaron 
Smith that went In March 1776 to Afsist in Taking Pof ses- 
sion of and Fortifying Dorchester Hills". 

This muster-roll is a repetition of that for the Lexington 
Alarm with the exceptions mentioned In the following 
paragraphs: 



462 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Names omitted: — Ensign Upham, Sergeant Bacon, and 
Privates Isaac Bacon, Joseph Haws, Isachar Pratt, Floyd, 
M'=Intire, John Bullard, Joseph Haws, Jr., John Fuller, Uriah 
Coller, Jr., Stephen Bacon, Jr., Seth Pratt, Jeremiah Smith, 
Felt, Timothy Bacon, Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., and Samuel 
Smith. Total, eighteen men. 

Names added: — Nathaniel Bullard, drummer, Joseph 
Bullard, fifer. Privates Isaac Goodenow, Enoch Fisk, Samuel 
Ward, Theodore Broad, Nehemiah Mills, Nicholas (erased), 
Timothy Huntting, Israel Huntting, Abijah Mills, Daniel 
Gould, Timothy Dell, Jonathan Bacon, Peter Bent, John 
Slack and George Wallin. Total seventeen, making the 
strength of the company sixty-nine men. There are also 
the following changes: — Samuel Kilton and Enoch Kings- 
bery had become sergeants, and the "Jun^" disappears after 
the names of Jonathan Whittemore, Eliphalet Kingsbery, 
Daniel Huntting and Benjamin Mills. 

Most of these men had travelled thirty-six miles from their 
homes and returning, had served four days, and the total 
due them was £34, 7s., lod. Dated April 21, 1777, and 
signed by Capt. Aaron Smith, who was a handsome writer. 
Archives, Vol. 23, p. 78. Capt. Aaron Smith was commis- 
sioned captain of the 9th Company of Colonel M'^Intosh's 
Regiment of militia in May, 1776. 



MILITARY DUTY AT ROXBURY 

The town paid the following named men for service at 
Roxbury in March, 1776, amounts varying from £1 to £2 
per man: — 

Robert Fuller, Jr., Eleazer Fuller, David Ockinton, Aaron 
Smith, Jr., Moses Kingsbery, Timothy Broad, Nathaniel 
Ware, Moses Eaton, Jeremiah Eaton, Timothy Dewing, 
Royal Mcintosh, Amos Fuller, Jr., William Smith, Jr., Ben- 
jamin Mills, 3d, Josiah Fisher, Joseph Dewing, Simeon 
Colburn, Timothy M'^Intire, Moses Man, Ephraim Stevens, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 463 

Aaron Moulton, Peter Jenison, Eliphalet Kingsbery, Jr., 
Jeremiah Gay, Nathaniel Kingsbery, Benjamin Dolbler, 
Benjamin Ward, Samuel Whitney, Jonathan Whittemore, 
Jr., Zebadiah Pratt, John Edes, Jr., Moses Fuller, Daniel 
Huntting, Jr., David Trull, Enoch Parker, Jeremiah Smith, 
Samuel Smith and Samuel Ward. Total, thirty-eight men. 

"A Roll of Cap* Hopeftill Halls Company in Coll? Lemuel 
Robinfons Reg' from the time of Service til marched" was 
dated October 4, 1776, and contains the names of the follow- 
ing Needham men : — Lieutenant Oliver Mills, Sergeant John 
Tolman, Corporal Philip Mills, Privates John Bird, Jeremiah 
Woodcock, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., Josiah Lyon, Elisha 
Mills, William Kitley, Benjamin Mills, Richard Bryon, 
Theophilus Richardson, Michael Bright, Ebenezer Richard- 
son, Joseph Stowell, Royal Mackintash, Michael Bacon, 
John Beaverstock and Elman Tolman. Total, nineteen men. 
These men were enlisted on January 30, served twenty-two 
days, and Lieutenant Mills was paid £31, i6s., 8d. (he either 
had claims in addition to the twenty-two days' service, or 
was paid in depreciated currency). Sergeant Tolman £1, 15s., 
Corporal Mills £1, lis., 3d. (in 1783 he received £2 from 
the town for service in 1776), privates £1, 9s., 4d. each. 
Archives, Vol. 2, p. 75. 

In November, 1776, the muster-roll of Capt. John Gay's 
Company, Colonel Francis's Regiment, showed the names of 
seven Needham men: — Corporal Samuel Daggett, Privates 
Moses Bacon, John Bacon, Joseph Haws, Moses Huntting, 
Elisha Fuller and Reuben Newell. They each were allowed 
by the Province one penny per mile for eighteen miles' travel, 
and also a day's pay for every twenty miles; their wages were 
los., 4d. per man, including six shillings each for "Gun and 
Blanket", the corporal receiving is., 6d. more. Archives, 
Vol. 2, p. 61. 

The town also paid all of them, except the two Bacons, 
£1, I2S., each, with this further exception that Daggett had 



464 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

but eight shillings. Jonathan Whittemore's name Is In the 
town list, which states that the service was at Dorchester Hill, 
August to December, 1776. Joseph Haws, Jr., was allowed 
£6, 13s., 4d. in 1782 for "Service in the War" In 1776. 

From the State Archives were obtained further particulars 
as to service in the year 1776: — Nathaniel Ayers, Aaron 
Jackson, Ephraim Jackson and Phinehas Kingsbery served 
a little over a month under Capt. Aaron Guild and Colonel 
Whitney, "til their Return Home", November 26, 1776, had 
travelled forty miles, and were to receive £2, 6s. each, but 
Ayers was to have six shillings more for an additional day. 
Archives, Vol. 19, p. 141. Ayers had served In the same com- 
pany with Phinehas Kingsbery late that year at Hull, and 
they were allowed by the Province 13s., 4d. each for "Blanket 
Money" besides one penny per mile for travel sixteen miles, 
together with the usual pay for service. Archives, Vol. 18, 
p. 32. 

Uriah Coller served from December, 1776 to February, 
1777, under Capt. Theophilus Wilder, Colonel Dike. Ar- 
chives, Vol. 26, pp. 424 and 425. 

CASTLE ISLAND 1776 

The "Melitia Detachment" under Capt. Thomas Mayo, 
Colonel Weld, for the Castle Island service December 9-29, 
1776, numbered forty-five officers and men from Roxbury, 
Brookline and Needham. The Needham men were: — 

Lieutenant Silas Alden, Sergeant Nathaniel Wilson, Cor- 
poral Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., Drummer Ebenezer Clark, Jr., 
Fifer Joseph Bullard, and Privates David Kingsbery, 
William Kingsbery, Amos Fuller, Jr., William Smith, Jr., 
Theophilus Richardson, Jr., Uriah Coller (Jr.), John Payn, 
Jonathan Whittemore, Aaron Smith, Jr., William Huntting 
and Converse Huntting. 

A number were absent on leave when the return was 
made, and all had travelled thirty-two miles, the pay varying 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 465 

from £4, OS., I i^d. due Lieutenant Alden to £1, 12s., 5id. due 
each private. Archives, Vol. 36, p. 175. The town also 
paid these sixteen men eight shillings each for one month's 
service, and also paid Jonathan Dunn and Robert Fuller, 
Jr., whose names are not in the muster-roll. In several 
instances the "Jr." is obtained from the town records, and 
is not found in the muster-roll. Nathaniel Ayers and Phin- 
ehas Kingsbery, before mentioned, were also paid by the 
town for duty performed on one of the islands near Boston 
in 1776, as was Ephraim Bullard, Jr. 

On June 24, 1776, there was an article in the warrant "To 
See if it be the mind of the Inhabitants of the town to In- 
ftruct, and advife their Prefent Representative, that If the 
Honorable Congrefs for the Safety of the United Colonies 
Declare them Independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, 
that they the Said Inhabitants will Solemnly Engage with 
their Lives and fortunes to Support them in y^ meafure". 
Presumably this vote passed, but the record does not indi- 
cate it, and prudence may have influenced the town clerk, 
Robert Fuller, although pages 135-8 of Vol. III. are covered 
with the Declaration of Independence of the United Colo- 
nies engrossed in full in Mr. Fuller's bold and handsome 
handwriting. 

CANADA AND NEW YORK 

A muster-roll of Capt. Timothy Stow's Company was 
found among his papers in 1869, and was placed in the State 
Archives, Vol. 49, pp. 116 and 117. The men named in this 
roll were to serve from June to December i, 1776, "to fur- 
nish ourfelves with a good effective Fire-Arm, and if pofRble, 
a Bayonet fitted thereto, or in lieu thereof, a Hatchet or 
Tomahawk, a Cartridge Box Knapsack and Blanket:" The 
recruits were to march to Charlestown, N. H., and they con- 
tracted to obey their officers, etc. Those who signed, repre- 
senting Needham, were (with no attempt to reproduce the 
abbreviations used by the men): — 



466 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Ithamar Smith, Jr., Benjamin Mills, Benjamin Mills, Jr., 
John Tolman, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr. (his mark), Ebenezer 
Huntting, David Henderson (his mark), Israel Huntting, 
John Clark, Nathaniel Fisher, Jr., Lemuel Eaton, Jonathan 
Huntting, John Smith, Seth Pratt, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., 
John Kitley, Isaac Bacon, Moses Eaton, Nathaniel Tolman, 
John Beverstock (his mark), Jonathan Whittemore, Aaron 
Fisher and Samuel Wight. Total, twenty-three. The signa- 
ture of Moses Daggett is crossed out. 

Of five thousand men called "for Canada & New York", 
"Needham's Proportion was 26 to be formed into one Com- 
pany of 91 men Officers Included". This was the company 
Captain Stow commanded, and ist Lieut. Moses Bullard 
was a Needham man. They were in the Second Division; 
"the firft Divifion Marched the 30^^ Day of July 1776 with 
a Waggon for their Baggage; the Second Divifion Marched 
the 5*'' Day of Auguft 1776 with a Waggon for their Baggage 
and were ordered to Charlestown in New Hampshire where 
I have been Informed they arived Safe in about Eight or 
Nine Day after their marching from home Atteft Jonathan 
Metcalf one of the Committee Watertown September 8: 
1776". Archives, Vol. 40, p. 225. 

In the town records these men are designated as going to 
Ticonderoga, and small bounties were paid them by the 
town. Nathaniel Fisher, Jr., died in the service, and Need- 
ham also sent William Carey and David Upham in her quota. 
The two men who bore the name of Benjamin Mills are 
designated in the town book as "Ju^" and "3*^"; John Smith 
is also "3*^". From August 24, when the company was at 
Ticonderoga, to November 17, 1776, several returns were 
made as to its effective strength. It was reckoned two hun- 
dred and ninety miles from Skeensborough to Dedham, via 
Albany, and it took this company fourteen and one half 
days to march this distance. Dedham was largely repre- 
sented in the company. 

The town paid bounties, amounting in all to about £55, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 467 

to the following men, who were entitled to them in Septem- 
ber, 1776, for service at "York": — Lieut. Enoch KIngsbery, 
Serg. Jonathan Gay, Privates John Bird, Ezra Mills, Samuel 
Ware, Elmon Tolman, William Smith, Jr., Enoch Mills, 
Joshua G [Illegible], Timothy Danlell, Jonathan KIngsbery, 
Jr., Stephen Bacon, Jr., David Hall, Samuel Woodcock, 
David Brackett and Seth Broad. In December the town 
paid £20 In bounties for service at "York", and the recip- 
ients were: — Lieut. Oliver Mills, John Tolman, Isaac Shep- 
ard, Philip Mills, Michael Bright (allowed £2 additional in 
1783), Ebenezer Clark, Jr., Nathaniel Ayers, Jr., Samuel 
Spring, Solomon Flagg, Timothy Huntting, Samuel Dag- 
gett, Jr., Ebenezer Huntting, Daniel Ware and Cato 
Underwood. Total, thirty men. This December list also 
Included the names of John Bird and David Brackett, 
both in the earlier list, as well as the name of Jonathan 
Huntting. 

In February, 1777, the town paid "Canady" bounties 
of seven pounds each to the following persons: — Nathaniel 
Fisher (a minor, and paid to his father), Aaron Fisher, 
Isaac Goodenow, Jr., John Kitley, Joslah Upham ("for 
his Negros' Inlifting"), Benjamin Mills, Jr., Benjamin 
Mills, "y^ 3:", Ebenezer Huntting, Jonathan Huntting, 
Israel Huntting, Moses Eaton, Lemuel Eaton, Jonathan 
Whittemore, Jr., Jeremiah Woodcock (paid to his father), 
John Beaverstock and John Smith, Jr. 

Late In December, 1777, Lieut. Moses Bullard was al- 
lowed £6, 13s., 4d. "for his Going to Ticonderoga In the 
Year 1776", and Lieut. Oliver Mills a like amount for going 
to "York" in December, 1776, while Lieut. Enoch KIngsbery 
received one half of that sum for his service at "York" in 
1776. Mrs. Mary Spring was paid £3 in 1782, the balance 
of her husband's bounty for three months' service at "York" 
in 1776 and 1777. These payments were made by vote of the 
town, which on July 15, 1776, had chosen Colonel M'=Intosh, 
Capt. Aaron Smith, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Robert Smith 



468 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

and John Slack, "to Confult what Method to Ralfe the 
money to Incouriage the Men that are to be Raifed to Go to 
Canady". Their report favored a bounty of seven pounds, 
additional to that offered by the General Court, and it was 
adopted in a town meeting, and a rate voted. This report, 
which is recorded in full under date of July 15, provided 
that a man who had been in the service "eight months last 
summer" should be allowed "half a turn", and also "half 
a turn more", if he re-enlisted and took the £14, thus making 
"a whole turn". A new soldier, with no former credits, 
was to be allowed for "a whole turn", in case he had only 
the £7 offered by the General Court, but if he had also 
received £7 from the town, then he was to be allowed but 
"half a turn". The town bounty, £7, was clearly within 
the reach of every man who enlisted for "Canady", whether 
officer or private, but expressions well understood when 
used are obscure to another age. 

CONTINENTAL ARMY. ONE YEAR MEN 1776 

The town paid to eighteen men bounties amounting to 
£113, 6s., 8d. for serving in the Continental Army for one 
year. The men were: — Lieutenants Aaron Pain (died in 
the service), and John Bacon, Sergeant John Bullard, 
Privates Nathan Dewing, Elmun Tolman, *Joseph Ware, 
*Thomas Fisher, John Coller, Joseph Fisher, *Daniel Wight, 
James Faris, John Gay, *Benjamin Edes, *WiUiam Symms, 
Benjamin Ware, Josiah Eaton, Elijah Fuller and Moses 
Bacon. The four men last named lost their lives in the 
One Year Service, and those marked with a star re-enlisted 
in the Continental Army for three years, after their enlist- 
ment for one year had expired. On June i, 1790, the select- 
men granted to Solomon Park Parker an order of £5, and 
also £1, 3s., the latter sum as costs, to settle a claim he had 
successfully sued for £5 "he paid to Capt Aaron Smith in 
1776 to hire men into the Continental army". 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



469 



CONTINENTAL 


ARMY. MEN ENLISTED 


FOR THREE YEARS 




1777 


-SO 






Date when 


Name of 


Regiment Name of 




enlisted. 


Captain. 


Colonel. 


Beaverstock Edward 




Watson 


3d. Greaton. 


alias Sam Cook 








Benjamin John 




Briant 


3d Cont. Crane. 
Art. 


Bryan Richard, Corporal Jan. 2, 1777 


Pilsbury 


13 th. Wigglesworth 


Clark John 


Apr. 5, 1779 


Marshall 


loth. Marshall. 


CoUer Phineas 




Foster 


3d. 


Crosby Simon 




Crafts 


2d Cont. Sheldon. 
Dragoons. 


Daverson Joseph 




Allen 


3d Cont. 
Art. 


Dell George 




Crafts 




Edes Benjamin 




Pettingill 


gth. Wesson. 


Edes CoUins 




Foster 




English John 




Marshall 




Fisher Thomas 


Nov. 28, 1776 


Foster 


3d. 


Flagg Solomon 




Marshall 




Gay John* 




]\Iorse 


5 th. Putnam. 


Grant 




Burton 


Henry Sher- 
burne. 


Hastings John 




Marshall 




Hawes Joseph 




Foster 




Henry John 




Crafts 




Hunter Joseph 




Crafts 




Jenison Israel 




AUen 




Jennings Jonathan 




Crafts 




Kitley WiUiam 


Feb. 1,1777 


Willington 


I 13th. 


Levey John 




Sargent 


3d Cont. 
Art. 


Lewis James 




Walcott 


loth. 


Lyon Josiah 


Dec. 1, 1776 


Foster 




Lyon Josiah, Jr. 




Foster 




Mills Ehsha 




Foster 




Mills Jonas 


Feb. 1780 




3d. ' 


Mills Josiah 


Apr. 14, 177;; 


' Morse 




D 


ischarged Oct. 24. 






Mills Josiah 


Nov. 1779 


Houdin 


Sth. 


Mills Nehemiah, Jr. 




Foster 




O'Brien 




WillingtoE 


L 


Parker David 




Walcott 




Parker Josiah 




Bryant 




Purkett Henry 




Crafts 





* John Gay was much in the service, and in a muster-roll dated January 10, 
1781, is described as of Natick, aged 26 yrs., 6 mos.; height, 5 feet, 7 inches. 



470 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Date when Name of Regiment Name of 





enlisted. Captain, 




Colonel. 


Richardson Ebenezer 


Feb. 5, 1777 Foster 






Spring Samuel 






Crane. 


Stowell Joseph 


Foster 






Symes WilHam 






Crane. 


Wamskutt 


Apr. 20, 1777 Morse 


sth. 


Putnam, 


Ware Joseph 


Feb. 24, 1777 Foster 






Whitmore Enoch 


Pettingill 






Wight Daniel 


Foster 







Total, forty-two, or forty-three men, of whom Crosby, 
Dell (Deal or Dill), Henry, Hunter and Jennings were of 
Boston, and Daverson, Grant and Levey were "Foreigners". 
These eight non-residents were hired to fill Needham's 
quota. 

The muster-roll from which most of the foregoing names 
were obtained is dated January i, 1781. Archives, Vol. 29, 
pp. 64, 161-4, Vol. 27, pp. 81, 84, 86, 88-90, 92, 94-6, 99- 
loi, 103 and 107, Vol. 40, p. 217. 

In 1776 Josiah Lyon and Elisha Mills had been "Ma- 
trofses" in the First Company of American Artillery, 
and served under Capt. James Swan in Colonel Crafts' 
"Batallon". Archives, Vol. 38, p. 118. 

On February 21, 1778, Colonel Mcintosh made oath, 
before Squire Newell, that Phineas Coller had served under 
Captain Foster, Colonels Greaton and Weld. Archives, 
Vol. 40, p. 217. A descriptive list, dated at West Point, 
January 25, 1781, contains the name of William Kelly 
(query Kitley.'') of Needham, 24 yrs. old, 5 ft., 7 in. tall, 
complexion dark, hair and eyes black, enlisted February i, 
"^777^ 3d Regiment, Colonel Greaton. 

The following named Needham men enlisted in the Con- 
tinental Army In April, 1781: — John Beaverstock, Thomas 
Cumings, Solomon Flagg, John Fuller, John Kitley, John 
M^Intire, Christopher Smith, Samuel Smith and Timothy 
Whittemore, and in June Ithamar Smith and Hezekiah 
Mills were added to their number. Three other men were 
also credited to Needham, viz., Charles Winchester, who 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 471 

enlisted in March, Benjamin Dolbeare, in July, and Eli- 
phalet Reed in August. Dolbeare appears to have been 
the only one of the three at all identified with Needham. 
Beaverstock and Flagg were Three Year veterans re-enlisted. 
Archives, Vol. 28, p. 175. 



VOTES OF THE TOWN RELATING TO SERVICE IN 
THE CONTINENTAL ARMY 

On February 17, 1777, a rate was voted to pay a town 
bounty of £14 to each man who enlisted in the Continental 
Army for three years, or for the war, and a committee, con- 
sisting of Capt. Robert Smith, Capt. Aaron Smith, Josiah 
Newell, Esq., John Slack, Lieut. Ebenezer Fuller, Lieut. 
William Fuller and Michael Metcalf, was "to See what has 
been paid, and who has Done a turn or part of a turn, 
Perfonally". In March the town voted to borrow the 
money to pay these bounties to soldiers enlisted before 
April 20th. 

On January 5, 1781, Eleazer Kingsbery, John Slack and 
Robert Fuller, Jr., a committee chosen by Needham on 
December 27, 1780, petitioned the General Court for an 
abatement of the quota of seventeen men for three years 
required of the town. They stated that the town had not 
been fully credited with its men then in the army, and that 
one half of them left families for which, by Act of the Gen- 
eral Court, the town had to provide. And as said Town 
took upon them an Early and large part in the Prefent 
Contest with Great Britain". This petition concluded 
with patriotic sentiments. Archives, Vol. 186, p. 429. 

In March, 1782, the town voted to raise £550 by a tax 
to pay the bounties of the Three Year men. The original 
receipts for bounties varying from £40 to £70 were dated 
from April to June, 1782, and were paid by the town com- 
mittee, whose duty it was to hire men for three years. 
These papers are in the Archives, Vol. 3, pp. 69-73, ^^^ 



472 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

are signed by the following recruits: — John Gardner, Joel 
Porter, Joseph p der?, Jonathan Belcher and Joseph Haws. 



CARE OF THE FAMILIES OF THE SOLDIERS 

The care of the families of the soldiers became a heavy 
expense, and the number of the poor increased during and 
after the war. In certain Instances the selectmen were 
authorized to apply the amount of a bounty to the support 
of a soldier's wife and children, and from time to time the 
following persons received money: — Elizabeth, wife of John 
English,^ Lydia, wife of Solomon Flagg, Sarah, wife of John 
Clark, the family of Ebenezer Richardson, Ann, wife of 
Richard Bllncow, who "was in the Private Expedition to 
Providence", 1777. 

Special allowances were also made to the families of the 
soldiers because of the "Extra price" of everything, and 
many orders of the selectmen have reference to this arrange- 
ment, which one case will sufficiently illustrate: On April 
6, 1778, Solomon Flagg was granted £7 "for money he 
paid for Extra price for providing for his Family, by Order 
of the Committee, from the firft of September Last, UntlU 
the Date hereof". The following persons also had such 
allowances: — Sarah, wife of Uriah Coller, Hannah, wife of 
[Joseph] Stowell, Sarah, wife of [Josiah?] Lyon, Mrs. John 
Clark, and "M'f Engllfh and Family". 

On July 26, 1779, Josiah Newell, Jr., Josiah Upham, 
Ensign Timothy Kingsbery, Josiah Newell, Esq., Dea. 
John Fisher, Moses Kingsbery and Colonel M'^Intosh were 
chosen "to Provide for the families of thofe men that are 
in the Continental army". In 1780 Capt. Eleazer Kings- 
bery, Nathaniel Fisher, Ephralm Pain, Capt. Caleb Kings- 
bery, Ebenezer Day, Timothy Newell and Lieut. Timothy 
Kingsbery were assigned to this duty, and In April, 1781, 

^ The name of Elizabeth English reappeared in our records in the autumn of 
1901, when Miss Elizabeth M. English, a graduate of Radcliffe College, came to 
teach the Parker School. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 473 

Ensign Josiah Upham, Moses Man and Capt. William 
Smith succeeded them. 



CONTINENTAL ARMY. MEN ENLISTED FOR NINE MONTHS 1779 
The Nine Months Men from Needham included: — 



Name 


Age 


Stature 


Complexion 


Captain 


Jeremiah Gay 


34 


5 ft, 83^ in. 


dark 


Smith 


James Faiiss 


24 


5 " 9 " 


sandy 


Lieut. J. Grace 


John Fuller 


31 


5 " 10 " 


dark 




Uriah CoUer 


46 


5 " 6 " 


(( 




Ithamar Smith 


32 


5 " 10 " 


light 


Lieut. Samuel E 



"Thaddeus Slack discharged" "unfit for Duty." The 
last six words are erased. Archives, Vol. 29, p. 41. 

These five men were mustered in June, 1779, for nine 
months, to serve for the Town of Needham, together with 
Samuel Fuller, Josiah Mills and John Smith, Jr. See cer- 
tificates of Nathaniel Barber "Qtr master County of Suffolk" 
April 4, 1780, and of Stephen Badlam "Superintendent 
C*J of Suffolk", dated Dorchester April 29, 1780. The latter 
certificate did not include Coller. Of those "receipted for" 
at Springfield, July 19, 1779, by Capt. James Cooper was 
Samuel Fuller of Needham, 18 yrs. old, 5 ft., 11 in. tall, 
dark complexion, who served under Captain Smith and 
Colonel M-^Intosh. Archives, Vol. 45, p. 272. 

On December 27, 1779, the selectmen, William Smith, 
Oliver Mills, William Fuller and Samuel Daggett, petitioned 
the General Court to remit a fine of £600 "for failure of the 
quota of men as required by a Resolve pafsed January, 
1779", claiming that the Nine Months men were "and are 
now in the Army". A certificate of Colonel M*=Intosh ac- 
companied this petition to the effect that Uriah Coller had 
enlisted in the Continental Army, and had marched, also 
one from Solomon (erased), Jr., that Coller had been in 
Capt. L. Bailey's Company, Col. J. Bailey, in August, 1779, 
as a Nine Months man from Needham. In November, 1781, 
Coller had an order for £150, the balance of his bounty for 



474 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



enlisting in 1779 in the Continental Army for nine months. 
In May, 1779, Samuel Alden and Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., 
took a load of clothing to Springfield for the use of the 
Continental soldiers, and were each paid £43, 13s., in de- 
preciated currency, by the town. 

In December, 1779, Seth Broad, Joseph BuUard and 
Nathan Dewing, then serving under Captain Howell, Colo- 
nel Tyler, had travelled seventy miles, and were entitled 
to £17, I2S. each for one month and three days. Archives, 
Vol. 2, pp. 114 and 126. 

On June 16, 1780, the town voted that the "Nine Months 
Men Should be Made up Equal with Others in the Nominal 
Sum that went in that Campaign". 



CONTINENTAL ARMY. MEN ENLISTED FOR SIX MONTHS 1780 

"A Descriptive Lift" of the men enlisted for Six Months, 
and who arrived at Springfield from July 16 to August 19, 
1780, Includes the following from Needham: — 



Complexion 

Ruddy 

(( 

Light 



Age Stature 
Thomas Kench 28 5 ft., 11 in. 

Daniel White (Wight?) 24 5" 11" 
WiUiam Smith, Jr. 20 6 " i " 

Elisha Fuller 20 6 

Hezekiah MUlar 45 5 

John Foster 46 5 

George Baker 31 5 

These seven men were commanded by Thomas Kench. 

Commander 
Ruddy Capt. Abner Howard 



John Bird 
Jeremiah Woodcock 
Uriah CoUer, Jr. 
Benjamin Mills 
Jason Smith 
Christopher Smith 
Timothy Whittemore 
Benjamin Dolbier 
Josiah Lyon 
Solomon Mills 
John Fuller 
Jeremiah Gay 
Uriah Coller 



51 5 ft., 10 in. 



23 
28 
20 
20 

17 
20 

59 
16 

32 
34 
49 



10 

7 
8 

7 
7 
2 
2 

9 

I 

II 
10 

S 



Light 
Ruddy 



Lieut. Zebalon King 



Light 

Ruddy Capt. [Joseph?] Fox 

ight 
Ruddy Ensign Blasdale 

(BlaisdeU) 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 475 

"A Pay Roll of the Men Belonging to Needham in the 
Service in the Continental Army Six Months in the year 
1780 Agreable to a Refolve of the General Court" included 
thirteen of the foregoing names, and also those of James 
Farris and Aaron Smith, all of whom had enlisted in July, 
except Uriah Coller, enlisted on August 14. They had served 
on the average six months, had travelled two hundred and 
twenty miles, and their wages amounted to £181, is., 4. 
This pay-roll is dated January 30, 1782, and was sworn to 
the next day, before Squire Newell, by the selectmen, John 
Fisher, William Mcintosh, William Fuller and Aaron Smith. 
Another list of these Six Months Men gives the ages some- 
what differently, omits Farris, and calls Solomon Mills 
Solomon "Miller". Archives, Vol. 27, p. 5. 

"A descriptive list of the New Levies raised for six 
months", dated August 29, 1780, includes of the foregoing 
only Jason Smith, Christopher Smith, Timothy Whitte- 
more, Benjamin Dolbier, Benjamin Mills, Uriah "Choller" 
and John Fuller, but adds for Needham Simeon Russell, 
Jeremiah Page and Ebenezer Bartlett. Archives, Vol. 25, 
p. 222. 

RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN 

"The Pay Roll of Cap* Ebeni Battles Company for Travel 
to and from the State of Rhode Ifland together with their 
Service Coh Jon? Titcombs Regiment In Said State From 
May 8*-^ to July Si** 1777 Being two months and a Day", 
included from Needham: — Serg. Aaron Smith, and Privates 
Royal Mcintosh, Reuben Newell, Moses Hunting, Moses 
Daggitt, Oliver Gay and Ebenezer Gay. They had been to 
Providence, and had travelled seventy-two miles. Sergeant 
Smith was entitled to £5, 4s., and the others to £4, 6s., 8d., 
besides the "State Bounty" of £2, 3s., 4d. Archives, Vol. 
I, pp. 81 and 95. The town list gives the name of Moses 
Deming instead of Moses Daggitt, which it should be, al- 
though it does not appear that there was a Moses Deming 



476 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

resident in Needham. M'^Intosh, Newell and Oliver Gay 
are recorded as paid £4 for service from May to September. 
Moses Daggett was at Tiverton, R. L, two years later, then 
serving under Captain Battelle, Colonel Pierce, and was dis- 
charged July I, 1779. 

Daggett had enlisted at Tiverton on July 2, 1778, and on 
January i, 1779, was in Captain Haskins's Company of Colo- 
nel Jacobs's Regiment, and Josiah Fisher was in the same 
company. There appears to be some confusion in the 
record of the latter's service; see Massachusetts Soldiers 
and Sailors, and Archives, Vol. 2, pp. 83 and 84. 

In April, 1779, orders were drawn in favor of Josiah Fisher, 
Oliver Gay and Moses Daggett for £68, 2s. each for six 
months' "Service at Rhode Island for the Town of Needham 
in 1778". On July 25, 1778, the Council had written to 
Colonel Mcintosh calling his attention to certain loiterers 
in Dedham, and other places, who should do duty in Rhode 
Island until January i. Archives, Vol. 199, p. 350. 

The military employed in Rhode Island consisted only of 
militia until the summer of 1778, when General Washington 
sent some Continental troops there. The Battle of Rhode 
Island was fought on August 29, 1778. 

Benjamin Mills had an order in June, 1781, for £15, the 
balance of his bounty for service in Rhode Island for six 
weeks in 1779. In 1780 there was military duty to be done 
in Rhode Island, and Capt. Robert Smith hired Capt. Moses 
Bullard to go in his place, and the town allowed the former 
£550, perhaps equal to £18, or thereabouts, in hard money, 
but Smith was dissatisfied with this award, and sought to 
obtain more. For several years Capt. Robert Smith was out 
of favor with his fellow-townsmen. See records of the town 
meeting on June 10, 1784, and of other meetings. 

In 1779 the town paid Richard Blencow, Moses Man, 
Timothy Dewing, John Pain, Samuel Daggett, Jonathan 
Whittemore, Jr., and Jonathan Dunn each £3, 12s. for the 
part which they had taken in the "Private Expedition to 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 477 

Providence". Joseph? Fisher, Abner Hall, Nathaniel Dyer 
and Jonas Obscow also represented Needham in this un- 
successful expedition, for which ten thousand men were 
assembled by the middle of October, 1777. John Fuller, Jr., 
served in the "Private Expedition", and had an order from 
the selectmen in April, 1779, for £32, los. 

RE-ENFORCEMENTS FOR THE NORTHERN ARMY 1777 

"A Pay Roll of Cap* Aaron Smiths' Company in Col 
Benj" Gills' Reg! of Mafsachusetts Bay Militia that Marched 
in Aug! 1777 to Reinforce y^ Northern Army" Included the 
names of thirteen men from Needham, viz., — Lieut. Moses 
Bullard, Lieut. Ichabod Gay, Privates John Smith, Benjamin 
Mills (on "Furlow"), Nath! Ayers, Nathan Dewing, Asa 
Huntting, Jonathan Huntting, Phinehas Kingsbery, Eben^ 
Goodenov/, David Mills, Jere Smith and Saml Baley. Most 
of these men had served three months and twenty-seven 
days, and had marched two hundred and forty miles. 
Captain Smith's pay was £46, i6s., the lieutenants £31, lis., 
9d. each, and the privates £7, i6s. each. The Captain swore 
to this roll before Josiah Newell, Justice of the Peace. Ar- 
chives, Vol. 23, p. 80. 

On January 21, 1778, this company consisted of sixty- 
eight men, besides the commissioned officers, and £718, 13s., 
4d. was due them. Archives, Vol. 23, p. 85. From the 
Province Captain Smith received allowance for two hundred 
and thirty-eight rations, and for travel from the camp at 
White Plains. In 1779 the town granted him £30 for this 
service. 

RE-ENFORCEMENTS FOR THE NORTHERN ARMY 1778 

A muster-roll dated June 29, 1778, gives the names of 
the Nine Months Men under Capt. Aaron Smith, Colonel 
M'^Intosh, with their service from their arrival at Fishklll on 
June 22. 



478 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 





Age Stature 




Complexion 


Hair Eyes 


Isaiah Plank 


21(25) 5 ft., 3 in. 


(5 


in.) Dark 


Dark Dark 


Asa Plank 


24(25)5" 5" 






U (1 


Seth Pratt 


19 5" 8" 






" Gray 


Nathaniel Ayers 


18 5" 4" 






(( <( 


Daniel White (Wight) 


22 s" 10" 






" Light 


David Henderson 


31 6" 




" (Negro) 


Black Black 


Longley Bartlett 


45 (43) 5 " 7 " 




Gray 


Gray Blue 


Cato Underwood 


24 5" 5" 




Negro 


Black Black 



All of these men were husbandmen, and the Planks came 
from Killlngly, Conn., a place with which Needham then 
had close associations. Archives, Vol. 28, p. 147. 

The color of the hair and eyes was obtained from a roll of 
this company, dated at Fishkill, August i, 1778, which later 
roll gives the ages of three of the men different from the June 
roll, and these changes are noted in parentheses in the fore- 
going list. In the August roll "D. 22" is against the name 
of White (Wight), and June 30, June 22 and June 24 after 
the names of Henderson, Bartlett and Underwood respec- 
tively. Another Fishkill roll, between these two dates, omits 
the two negroes, and credits Needham with nine men, who 
apparently belonged in Dedham, or in the Springfield 
Parish of Dedham, viz., — Ebenezer Battles, Hezekiah Bat- 
tles, Josiah Battles, Nathan Cook, Josiah Fisher, James 
Gray, Ichabod Farrington, Abijah Richards and Hezekiah 
Turner. After White's (Wight's) name "June 22^" is 
written. The date of this roll was July 2, 1778, and it 
was signed by R. Putnam, Colonel, and "Jona? Warren 
Commifsioner" receipted for one hundred and nine men. 
Archives, Vol. 41, p. 30. 

These were the "Men Raifed in the County of Suffolk to 
Compleat the fifteen Battalions of Continental Troops 
Directed to be Raif'd in the State of Mafsachufetts Bay" 
according to Archives, Vol. 40, pp. 131, 152 and 211, but as 
Capt. Aaron Smith was never an officer in the Continental 
Army it is probable that the privates were in the militia, 
and not Continentals. On October 19, 1779, the town voted 
£40 each to Lieut. Silas Alden and Lieut. William Fuller 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 479 

"for their Hiering an Officer to Go to y^ North River Eight 
Months in the year 1778". 

SERVICE AT CASTLE ISLAND 1779 

The following named men did duty at Castle Island under 
Maj.-Gen. Hancock, in Capt. Nathaniel Belcher's Company 
of Suffolk militia, serving from August 27 to December i, 
1779, and having claims for fifteen miles' travel: — Samuel 
Coller, Elisha Fuller, John Bird, Edward Buckminister, 
Lemuel Smith, William Gay, Solomon Colburn, Jonathan 
Day, David Fuller, Daniel Knolton and Samuel Gay. Ar- 
chives, Vol. 25, pp. 19 and 21. 

VOTES OF THE TOWN AND ORDERS OF THE SELECTMEN IN 
1778 AND 1779 RELATIVE TO THE WAR 

On February 6 and 9, 1778, the selectmen drew orders in 
favor of two hundred and nine persons "for Money Paid, 
and Services Done in the present war". Some claims were 
as small as eight shillings, and the largest were those of 
Thomas Fisher and Joseph Ware, £16, 13s., 4d. each. 
Jonathan Deming, whose name is not found in the muster- 
rolls, was allowed £3, 3s., 4d., as he had "Done a turn". 
In 1778 the town was called upon for thirteen men "to Rein- 
force the army with Gen-f' Wafhington and at Hudfons 
River", and on March 9 Colonel M'^Intosh, Amos Fuller, 
Capt. William Smith, Lieut. William Fuller and Lieut. Josiah 
Upham were chosen to see what the town "Shall allow to a 
man that Shall be Drafted or Goes Vollentery in to the Pub- 
lick Service of the war". This Committee reported on June 
10, but on May 28 the further consideration of the allow- 
ance to the "Years Men" had been referred to it, or to a 
new committee. At the latter meeting the town appropriated 
£150 to pay for a gift of clothing to be sent to the Conti- 
nental soldiers. At the meeting on May 6, when the new 
committee was elected, which consisted of Colonel M<=Intosh, 
Capt. Aaron Smith, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Serg. Jonathan 



48o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Gay and Aaron Smith, Jr., the members were directed to 
hire men "Difcrecinary, and at the belt Method they can", 
and the town treasurer was authorized to borrow the neces- 
sary money. 

On March 9, 1779, the town, after much discussion, ac- 
cepted the report of the committee "Relative to thofe men 
that went to y® Northard" with Capt. Aaron Smith, also 
those that "went in the Private Expedition to Providence 
in the year 1777", or "to Gard the Britifh Prifoners at 
Cambridge" in November, 1777, or "to Gard the Stores" 
six months in 1777, or "to Gard near Bofton" (or hired men 
"in their Room") in 1777 and 1778, or "to Gard at Dor- 
chefter hill", and near Boston in 1778. 

There were eleven men who guarded prisoners at Cam- 
bridge in November, 1777: — Joseph Bullard, Abner Hall, 
Moses Huntting, Amos Huntting, Nathaniel Bullard, 
William Graves, Robert Fuller, Jr., Uriah Coller, Uriah 
Coller, Jr., Jeremiah Eaton, Jr., and Enoch Wilson, and 
£117 were distributed "to thofe men and their Succefsors 
in Said Guard"; most of them received £13. Ebenezer 
Wilkinson, Archibald Smith and William Eaton were fined. 

Nehemiah Mills and Jonas Mills were paid £6 each for 
guarding stores for six months, and there were seven men 
who were entitled to £9 each for guard duty near Boston in 
1777 and 1778: — Joseph Hawes, Enoch Fisk, Enoch John- 
son, Joshua Brown, Samuel Coller, Nathaniel Fisher and 
Samuel Pain. There were eight who were paid £11 each: — 
William Leverett, Theodore Broad, Abner Hall, Lemuel 
Eaton, Elisha Fuller, Uriah Coller, Samuel Coller and Enoch 
Wilson. The claims against the town in .1778 amounted to 
"£2292:4:8:0," and there was due the town "£832:9: 4: 2." 
The town considered the matter of "Several Fines that was 
paid to Cap* Robert Smith which Appears that the Town 
has had no Benefit of them". There may have been another 
side to the controversy as to these fines, for Captain Smith 
had had the confidence of the community for many years. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 481 

Of those who received £2, los. each from the town for 
"Garding on the Islands Near Bofton 1778" were Joseph 
Kingsbery, Moses Daggett, Aaron Smith, Jr., Michael 
Bright and Isaac Shepard. 

Eight men received from the town a total of £90 (from 
£7, los. to £15) for guarding prisoners at Cambridge, prob- 
ably "Burgoyne Prisoners", which duty they undertook to 
perform for three months. The men were: — Stephen 
Huntting, Thomas Descomb, Moses Fisk, Jacob Heming- 
way, Joseph Drury, Michael Harris, Asa Gay and Samuel 
Coller. 

Capt. Robert Smith, Jonathan Smith, Jr., Jonathan 
Kingsbery, Jr., Joseph Mudge, Jr., Seth Broad, Jonathan 
Bacon, Samuel Ward, Samuel Eaton, Enoch Wilson, Gideon 
MTntosh and Samuel Fuller were paid sums amounting to 
£44 for guard duty at Dorchester Hill and in Boston in 
1778. 

On March 19, 1779, the town accepted the report of the 
committee as to the men who went "to Gard on the Island 
in the Year 1778 with Allowance for Isaac Shepards man 
the time he was there longer; in proportion to the Sum that 
was allowed to them", "also as to those that went to Rox- 
bury laft march", or "to Gard y" Prifoners at Cambridge in 
April and may laft three months", or "to Nantafkett Island 
Near Bofton", 1776, or "to Providence in Auguft for Six 
months", 1778, or "to Gard y° Stores in July laft for 15 
Days", or "to Rhode Island in Auguft Laft or hired Men 
in their Room for Six weeks; To be made up Twenty Shillings 
a Day with their wagers"; or "to Bofton in September 1778 
or hired men in their Room for three months". 

In these varied services each man was to receive £11 per 
month, in sadly depreciated currency, and in July, 1779, 
£17 were also voted to each man. John Slack, Capt. Caleb 
Kingsbery, Capt. Aaron Smith, Capt. Robert Smith and 
Jeremiah Daniell were chosen "to Set what Sum of Money 
the Town Shall Allow to a man that may be Drafted or 



482 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Goes Volentary into the Publick Service of the war for the 
Town of Needham when Called for in y® Enfuing year". 
At the town meeting on July 26 Capt. Robert Smith was 
excused from this committee, and Aaron Smith, Jr., Jonathan 
Gay and Isaac Goodenow, Jr., were added. They were to 
act under a vote similar to that of May 6, 1778. In order 
to pay the "Charges of the War the Laft year" £3000 were 
voted. Colonel M'^Intosh and others advanced money to pay 
the soldiers, and in July, 1779, the town appropriated £4000 
for war expenses, and added £3000 in October. On August 
2, 1779, Capt. Ebenezer Fuller, Michael Metcalf and Aaron 
Smith, Jr. ("Hawk Aaron") were chosen "to Confider and 
Say what Allowance thofe Officers Should have That were 
Mentioned in the laft Report of y^ Committee". In October 
and November the selectmen granted ninety-three orders 
for services and money advanced on account of the war, the 
amounts varying from £1 to £33. 

VOTES OF THE TOWN AND ORDERS OF THE SELECTMEN FROM 
1780 TO 1783 INCLUSIVE, RELATIVE TO THE WAR 

On May 29, 1780, Aaron Smith, Jr., Eleazer Fuller, Josiah 
Newell, Esq., Enoch Parker and Amos Fuller were chosen 
to hire men for the ensuing year, if any were needed, with 
authority to draw on the town treasury, and to borrow 
money when necessary. Amos Fuller declined to serve, and 
on June 16 the committee was increased by adding Samuel 
Alden, John Slack, Jr., and Robert Fuller, Jr. Three men 
had been chosen in May to examine the accounts of the com- 
mittee to hire soldiers. At the June meeting £30,000 were 
voted, to be raised by a rate, in order to hire the men re- 
quired, and on July 17 another £30,000 were placed at the 
disposal of the committee. These large sums illustrate 
the great depreciation of the Continental Currency. 

On October 12, 1780, Josiah Newell, Jr., Lieut. Silas 
Alden and Moses Man were selected "to Procure the Beef 
Laid on Said Town", and £16,000 appropriated, which sum 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 483 

was increased by £23,000 in December. On July 9, 1781, 
Timothy Newell, Ensign Josiah Upham and Capt. Isaac 
Goodenow were assigned to this task, and £220 in hard 
money "or paper Equilent" voted, to which £13, 6s., ^d. 
were added later. Our selectmen drew many orders to pay 
for this beef which cost from three pence to five pence per 
pound. Some of it was bought In Roxbury, and Stephen 
Bacon had charge of the money to pay for it. 

On December 27, 1780, a new committee to hire men 
was named, and It consisted of Lieut. Oliver Mills, Samuel 
Daggett and Timothy Huntting. Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. 
Moses Bullard, John Ayers and Capt, John Bacon were 
added to this committee in January, 178 1. On January 
29, 1 78 1, however, the town proceeded to choose a new 
committee "to Procure the men that are now Called for" 
"in y^ beft and Cheapeft Manner they can". This com- 
mittee included Samuel Fisher, Capt. Moses Bullard, Moses 
Man, Capt. John Bacon, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., Lieut. 
Enoch Kingsbery and Capt. Robert Smith, and £550 in 
hard money, to be raised by a tax, were placed at their 
disposal. The same committee, with the addition of Aaron 
Smith, Jr., was re-elected on July 9, 1781, and £180, hard 
money, appropriated, with authority to borrow under the 
vote of December 27. 

These various war committees were refused compensa- 
tion at the time, but later successfully petitioned the town 
for pay. A large sum was paid to the members of the numer- 
ous "War Committees" at the rate of three shillings per day 
per man for actual service. 

The record book in which the expenses of these committees 
were recorded, as well as all other payments by the town on 
account of the War of the Revolution, is of great value, 
as the entries furnish evidence of military service not found 
in the State Archives. 



484 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

FROM THE STATE ARCHIVES 

"To the Hon*'^<= Council of the Mafsechufetts Bay 

I was derected By the Brlgr. of the County of Suffolk to 
detach ten men from the firft Reg* in the County of Suffolk 
and one Lieut: to guard the Continental Stors; Agreable 
there to I have ordered Liu* Enoch Kingfbury to go with 
the guard 

I am your Honours Moft humble Ser* 
July 1777 W'^ M^Intafh 

The town refused on October 19, 1779, to compensate 
Lieutenant Kingsbury for guarding these stores, or for a 
similar service. On March 4, 1778, Colonel Mcintosh 
informed the Council that he had detached eighteen men 
with a lieutenant and a fifer "to take Bofton Long Ifland 
Properly Equiped". Archives, Vol. 43, p. 306. The Coun- 
cil on August 2, 1779, called on Colonel Mcintosh for infor- 
mation as to what he had done under a certain Resolve. 
Archives, Vol. 199, p. 350. 

The story of the part taken by the men of Needham in the 
War of the American Revolution or in the Civil War 
might be extended into a volume of some size, particularly 
if the personal experiences related in the applications for 
pensions or recorded in private journals and letters were 
included. We know what the women did in the time of the 
Civil War, and may be sure that they did no less, and per- 
haps suffered more, in the weary years of the earlier struggle. 
This chapter may seem unnecessarily long, and yet only 
the essential facts and a few of the more important muster- 
rolls are referred to or quoted. 

In the War of the American Revolution, as in the Civil 
War, Needham was represented by her sons in the quotas 
of other towns, perhaps of other Provinces, but the names 
of these men are not known to the writer. 

Joseph Ware of Needham served under Capt. Samuel 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 485 

Ward in Gen. Benedict Arnold's expedition against Quebec, 
and kept a journal, which was printed, in part at least, in 
the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 
Vol. VI., 1852. 

CHILDREN'S SUBSCRIPTION TO BUNKER HILL MONUMENT 

At the suggestion of the Bunker Hill Monument Association 
the town appointed a committee on November i, 1824, to 
receive the subscriptions of children toward the monument. 
The committee consisted of Peter Lyon, Esq., Elisha Lyon, 
Esq., Capt. Jonathan Gay, Capt. George Smith and George 
Fisher, and the money raised was "to be placed to the name 
of Lafayette". Several citizens of Needham contributed 
$5 each, and doubtless the children gave something. 

CENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLES OF CONCORD AND LEXINGTON 

On March i, 1875, the town chose Warren Dewing, Solo- 
mon Flagg and George K. Daniell, all sons of soldiers of the 
War of the American Revolution, as delegates to the Cen- 
tennial commemoration. The citizens were invited by the 
town to accompany the delegates, and the invitation was 
availed of by the venerable William Eaton, son of a soldier 
of the Revolution, and three hundred others, in addition to 
the principal town officers. The town furnished the delegates 
with a banner, which cost $122, and has been preserved. 

In 1898 the town made an appropriation to place bronze 
markers on the graves of its soldiers who served in the War 
of the Revolution, and appointed the selectmen and George 
K. Clarke a committee to carry the vote into effect. Twenty- 
nine such markers were obtained by Mr. Clarke and placed 
on graves in the old burying-ground on Nehoiden Street, 
and these graves have since been annually decorated by 
Galen Orr Post, G. A. R., with flags and flowers, most of the 
flags remaining in place for the greater part of the year 
following Decoration Day. In 1899 the veterans of the 
Civil War in Wellesley marked the graves of fourteen sol- 



486 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

diers of the American Revolution in that town, formerly 
West Needham. Later the graves of Joslah Ware, a Need- 
ham soldier, and of Cyrus Pratt, a Newton soldier, were 
similarly marked in the old burying-ground in Wellesley. 
On April 19, 191 1, there was a flag-raising on the College 
grounds at Wellesley in memory of the West Needham 
militia, who went to West Cambridge in consequence of the 
Lexington Alarm on April 19, 1775, and on July 4, 191 1, 
Mrs. Henry F. Durant unveiled a granite shaft erected to 
their memory. This is a handsome and costly monument, 
and it bears an inscription on a bronze tablet. It stands 
near the site of Bullard's Tavern at the College gate. There 
was a brief address by Mrs. Durant, and appropriate exer- 
cises in the town hall. Mr. Perkins was the orator of this 
occasion, and his speech is said to have been admirable. 

Charles Dana Burrage of Needham was president of the 
Sons of the Revolution of Massachusetts in the years 1907- 
II, and George Kuhn Clarke was vice-president of the 
Newtowne Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, 
from March, 1903 to March, 1904, and its president from 
March, 1904 to March, 1905.* 

WAR OF 1812 

In a note to the Rev. Thomas Noyes's address, delivered 
when the company of Exempts was disbanded, is the state- 
ment that the following "have died of wounds or sickness, 
viz. Joseph Childs, Benjamin Cheney, Levi Lincoln, Nathan 
Kingsbury, Joel Smith, Eliakim Smith, Jonathan Kings- 
bury, Jun. John Gurney, Luke O'Brien and Mark O'Brien". 
Only three others are named in this note as having served 

* There are two distinct organizations of the male descendants of the Revolu- 
tionary soldiers. The Sons of the American Revolution number about eighteen 
thousand, and the Sons of the Revolution less than seven thousand. The female 
descendants of the Revolutionary soldiers are also divided. The Daughters of 
the American Revolution number about seventy thousand, and the Daughters 
of the Revolution some six thousand. None of these organizations have had 
many members from Needham, although numerous residents of the town are 
eligible to them. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 487 

in the war: — William Vose, Henry Dewing, Jr., and Jere- 
miah Woodcock, and it says "the former of whom was sent 
home in consequence of sickness; the latter, in consequence 
of wounds". From other sources of information it appears 
that John Hastings and Isaiah Woodcock were also in this 
war, and that Woodcock was wounded in the shoulder. 
Joel Smith, who was killed, was a son of Capt. Robert Smith 
of the Revolutionary War. The selectmen's orders show 
that Josiah Hastings and Isaiah Fisk had $21.69 ^^^h for 
service for three months and three days in 18 14, Joseph 
Ayers, Joseph Hagar, Joseph Bullen, Galen Bowditch and 
Timothy Stevens $16.53 each for two months and eleven 
days as soldiers. Joseph Kingsbury did duty at Fort Warren 
for two months and eleven days and also received $16.53, 
and David Kingsbury was at that Fort three months and 
three days, for which service he was paid $21.69; ^1^ '^^ the 
year 1814. Isaiah Woodcock, who was born in 1786, was 
wounded at the Battle of Bridgewater, and survived but 
eighteen days, never returning to Needham. His brother, 
Jeremiah, contracted disease in the service, and died in 1823; 
it is said in consequence of this sickness. 

Mr. Henry Michael M'^Intosh wrote that he heard his 
father say that during the War of 18 12 his father. Major 
Ebenezer Mcintosh, was employed to team flour for the 
army from Albany to Boston, and that the trip took about 
two weeks. It was feared that the teams, which the Major 
had hired into the service, would be attacked, and perhaps 
captured, the danger being considerable at a certain ferry, 
but they got through to Boston without difficulty. 

EXEMPTS. WAR OF 1812 

The company of Exempts was organized on September 
22, 1 8 14, with seventy-nine members. Daniel Ware was 
captain. Major Ebenezer M'=Intosh was lieutenant and 
Lieut. Moses Garfield was the ensign. The four sergeants 
were Capt. George Smith, Lieut. Lemuel Kingsbury, Capt. 



488 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Jonathan Fuller and Capt. Artemas Newell. Aaron Smith 
was the clerk, the Rev. Stephen Palmer and the Rev. 
Thomas Noyes were chaplains, Isaac Shepard, Esq., quarter- 
master. Dr. Isaac Morrill, surgeon, and Elisha Flagg and 
Ellis Stedman were respectively the fifer and drummer. 
The sixty-five privates included Col. Alden, Capts. Ephraim 
Bullard, Timothy Bullard, Nathan Dewing and Michael 
Harris, Lieuts. William Fuller, Fisher Mills and Ephraim 
Ware, Ensigns Ebenezer Bird and Asa Cheney. Also 
Deputy-Sheriff Nathaniel Bullard, Deacon Asa Kingsbury 
and Benjamin Slack, Esq. Joseph Fisher was the oldest 
member of the company, and although but in his eightieth 
year, is called in a note to Mr. Palmer's sermon, "the oldest 
man in the town". The company adopted a Constitution 
consisting of thirteen articles, with a patriotic preamble. 
From the introduction to "a sermon preached before 

THE MILITARY COMPANY OF EXEMPTS, IN NEEDHAM, ON 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER I7, 1814. BY STEPHEN PALMER, 
CHAPLAIN OF SAID COMPANY. PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
DEDHAM: PRINTED AT THE GAZETTE OFFICE. I814." WC learn 

that the two militia companies of the town, Capts. Elisha 
Lyon and Ebenezer Fuller, paraded on November 17, 18 14, 
with the Exempts. "These companies being united with 
the company of exempts formed a respectable battalion, 
which made quite a martial appearance. The company 
commanded by Capt. Fuller bore a very elegant standard, 
which had been presented by the ladies in that part of the 
town. The music was of a superior kind. The firings and 
military evolutions, performed after public service, evinced 
military skill and gave much satisfaction — But what was 
still more gratifying, all appeared to be of one heart and one 
mind." Political feeling as to the war had been bitter, and 
it was in the presence of what was believed to be a great 
and common danger that this company of Exempts was 
formed, and Mr. Palmer preached eloquently to them broth- 
erly kindness, unity and devotion to their country. This 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 489 

discourse was presumably delivered in the East Meeting- 
house. From a prefatory note to "an address delivered 

AT THE WEST PARISH IN NEEDHAM, BEFORE THE MILITARY 
COMPANY OF EXEMPTS, IN SAID TOWN, AT THEIR DISBANDING, 
ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL I9, 1815. BY THOMAS NOYES, ONE 
OF THE CHAPLAINS OF SAID COMPANY. PUBLISHED BY RE- 
QUEST, dedham: printed at the gazette office. 181 5." 
it appears that the Exempts "paraded at eleven o'clock 
near the centre of the town, where they were joined by the 
other two companies, under the command of Captains Fuller 
and Lyon — forming a battalion they marched to the West 
meeting house, where they attended religious exercises; 
after which they retired to the common and performed a 
number of evolutions, and then the three companies par- 
took of a handsome entertainment provided by Mr. Flagg. 
Sociability and friendship characterized all the proceedings 
of the day. The company of Exempts being disbanded, all 
the citizens retired to enjoy the blessings of peace". This 
pamphlet of sixteen pages includes the names of the men 
who represented Needham in the War of 1812. Mr. Palmer's 
sermon, with names of the members of the company of Ex- 
empts, etc., is a pamphlet of 154 pages. The Exempts drilled 
from time to time, and from March i to September i they 
met for that purpose from 2 to 5 in the afternoon, and the 
rest of the year from i to 4. Lewis Jones, who died Novem- 
ber 4, 1872, aged ninety-four years, was the last survivor 
of this company; Enos H. Tucker, who died November 15, 
1868, outlived all of his comrades but Mr. Jones. 

Several anecdotes are told of Mr. Noyes: He is said for 
years to have used the same opening prayer, or first part of 
the long prayer, and the boys in the gallery were wont 
to mutter it in advance of the minister. Mr. Noyes wore in 
the summer a long calico robe, or gown, which he tied in a 
knot behind his back when he raked hay, in which employ- 
ment he excelled. The late Honorable Enos H. Tucker 
related other anecdotes of this minister. 



Cije Ctfail Wat 



In a town history it seems impracticable to attempt so 
great a theme as the Civil War. Needham furnished more 
than two hundred men, not all of them citizens it is true, 
but her sons helped to fill the quotas of other towns, cities 
and distant States. "Needham in the Civil War" would 
be an appropriate title for a volume which might contain 
two or three hundred pages and not exhaust the subject. 
The first reference to this war in the town records is the 
record of the meeting on April 29, 1861, Marshall Newell 
moderator, at which $15 were voted to each man "who 
shall Enlist or join a Military organization for the defence 
or protection of our Country". Two thousand dollars were 
appropriated, and Edgar K. Whitaker, Claudius B. Patten, 
Benjamin G. Kimball and Calvin Perry chosen a "Military 
Committee" to procure volunteers, provide clothing and 
other supplies both for the enlisted men and for their fami- 
lies, and to secure a suitable headquarters for the examina- 
tion and drill of recruits. Artemas Newell made a fiery 
address, and the selectmen were authorized to draw orders 
on a "War Appropriation" of $8000. On July 24, 1862, the 
town voted a bounty of $100, later increased to $200, which 
was to be good for thirty days, and on August 21 another 
bounty of $200 was voted to men who volunteered for the 
nine months' service to fill the town's quota. At a meeting 
on September 16 the selectmen were authorized to procure 
volunteers, and the town voted to pay State Aid to the 
families of soldiers. At the annual meeting on March 2, 
1863, George K. Daniell was the moderator, and had pre- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 491 

sided the previous July, but Marshall Newell was pre- 
eminently the moderator of the period of the Civil War. 
At this meeting, March 2, a bounty of $100 was voted to 
volunteers who shall have served in the United States Army 
for three years, and have not already received such bounty. 
Soldiers discharged for disability were to receive "in pro- 
portion to the time they may be so disabled", not exceeding 
the amount of $100. 

A like sum, $100, was to be paid to the family of a man 
who died in the service, and if the soldier left a wife, or any 
child under the age of twelve years, an additional $100 was 
to be given to them. On March 7, 1864, the town directed 
the selectmen to petition the General Court to make valid 
the vote of the town of March 16, 1863, which was to pay 
a bounty to soldiers who had enlisted without any. On 
April 14, 1864, the town appropriated $2875 "^o^ the pur- 
pose of refunding the amounts advanced by individuals, 
and paying expenses incurred in raising recruits under the 
call of the President dated October 17*'* 1863". At the 
same meeting $2250 were voted to enable the selectmen to 
fill the quota required by the order of March 14, 1864, no 
recruit to cost the town more than $125. Extra aid was also 
authorized when the families of soldiers were in need. On 
August 4, 1864, the town voted $125 "for each recruit en- 
listed on any Quota called for by the President, at any 
time between the first day of March 1864 and March i^*, 
1865". In May, 1865, the town voted money to reimburse 
individuals who had contributed for the purpose of filling the 
town's quota under requisitions during 1864, and on March 
5, 1866, voted further aid to the families of deceased soldiers. 

The military expenses of the town during the Civil War 
amounted to $20,000, and a large debt was incurred. The 
aid extended to the families of volunteers was $4300 for the 
year 1863 alone, but such expenditures were largely, if not 
entirely, refunded by the Commonwealth. The town had 
an efficient board of selectmen during the war, and made 



492 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

no change in its membership from 1861 to 1865, inclusive. 
No man could have done more than did Galen Orr to ob- 
tain men, and to properly provide for them. These duties 
required much energy and considerable travelling, and by 
his efficiency Mr. Orr made the War Record of Needham 
one to be proud of. Securing recruits was only one of the 
many duties, connected with the War, that devolved upon 
him, and he performed them all well. His colleagues, 
Silas G. Williams and Augustus Stevens, the former always 
a Democrat, shared with Mr. Orr the honor of rendering 
able service for years in a great epoch. 

The number of soldiers from Needham under the first 
call, 1862, was forty-one. There were thirty- three of the 
Three Years Men, and sixty-three of the Nine Months Men, 
who received a bounty of $200 each. 

War meetings were held at the expense of the town in 
Nehoiden, Village and Maugus Halls, the latter then owned 
by the Maugus Hall Association. 

The splendid patriotism called forth by the Civil War 
excites our admiration, but there were non-combatants 
whose minds were unbalanced by the excitement of the 
time, and who yet had no disposition to enlist. Needham 
was not free from these individuals, and in the West part 
of the town there was hostility, now not easily understood, 
to a clergyman of the highest character, who was later a 
personal friend of President Lincoln. The charge was that 
the minister "opposed the War", meaning that he had 
spoken of the evils attending war, and deplored the neces- 
sity of it between Christians. The pastor resigned. There 
were a few instances showing a similar disposition in the 
East part of the town. 

SOLDIERS' LETTER 

The original of this letter was preserved with the town 
papers until about July i, 1897, when it was lost together 
with other documents, of perhaps equal value and interest. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 493 

For particulars see the Needham Chronicle for July 3, 1897, 
from which paper the letter is quoted. 

"Near Petersburg, Va., 

Dec. 30th, 1864. 

Mr. Orr 

Sir We the undersigned members of Co. I 35th Regt. 
Mass. Vols, do hereby pray the Town of Needham through 
you that while you are in the enjoyment of the many Bless- 
ings that kind Providence has bestowed on you that you 
will remember the Soldiers in the field, and while you sit 
around your fireside with none to molest or make afraid, 
the Soldier is exposed to privations and death in many 
ways. When our Regt. left Mass. Needham was represented 
by nine men in Co I now there is but two left three have 
joined the Army in the other world three have been dis- 
charged for disability and one was taken Prisoner Sept. 30 
Therefore if the Town of Needham thinks they can afford 
to remember us with a few of the good things of life they 
will be thankfuly received. And as we soon expect to 
smoke the Pipe of Peace with our enemys we Pray you to 
send us some tobacco, as we have not been paid the past 
four months tobacco is very scarce here at present, and our 
duty is very hard here now we are in the trenches every 
second night and living on Salt Pork and hard tack is very 
wearing on us to say nothing about the shells and minne 
balls that we have to dodge, therefore it takes some tobacco 
to keep our nerves steady 

We hope you will think favorable of this and answer at 
your earliest Conveinence 

We remain respectfully yours 

Geo. L. Knapp 

S. S. Wheeler 

Co, I 3Sth Regt. Mass. Vols. 
City Point Va." 

On the back is endorsed "Call for tobacco by soldiers in 
the army, Dec. 1864. 2 lbs. delivered". 



494 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

NEEDHAM'S SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Ijniess otherwise indicated all of the men whose names 
are in the following pages enlisted for three years. The 
dates of enlistment and of muster Into the United States 
service vary from two or three days to three or four weeks, 
and the date which immediately follows the number of the 
regiment is that when the soldier was mustered into the ser- 
vice. There are some instances where that date Is missing, 
and the date of enlistment is substituted, but in such cases 
the word "enlisted" is inserted. 

Infantry 

Adams, Stephen W., Co. F, 40th Reg., Sept. 3, 1862, 
transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps Dec. 3, 1863; 
wagoner. Not in the town books. 

Ambler, Artemus C, Co. C, 23d Reg., Sept. 28, 1861, 
mustered out Oct. 13, 1864. 

Avery, George, Co. B, 22d Reg., enlisted Sept. 2, 1861, 
discharged for disability June 28, 1862. 

Avignon, Peter, Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, died Aug. 
I, 1864, at Andersonvllle, Ga. Not in the town books. 

Badloe, Louis, Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, died at An- 
dersonvllle, Ga., Aug. 9, 1864. Not in the town books. 

Bailey, Walter, Co. K, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Barnes, Daniel, Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Oct. il, 
1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Batcheller, Holland, N., Co. B, 39th Reg., Aug. 20, 1862, 
discharged by order of the War Department May 5, 1863. 

Belcher, Charles H., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Beless, George, Co. I, 38th Reg., Aug. 21, 1862, dis- 
charged for disability Nov. 14, 1862. 

Bemis, George, Co. K, 42d Reg., One Hundred Days, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 495 

July 18, 1864, mustered out Nov. 11, 1864. Not in the town 
books, and said to have served the town of Dover as a 
soldier. 

Bent, Thomas D., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, mustered out June I, 1863, to enlist in the 2d 
Heavy Artillery. 

Berry, Asa B., Co. I, 19th Reg., Aug. 28, 1861, mustered 
out Aug. 28, 1864. Not in the town books. 

Boynton, Richard F., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Brennan, John, Co. B, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, discharged for disability Jan. 30, 1863. 

Bullard, Moses H., Co. G, 22d Reg., Sept. 9, 1861, killed 
at Gaines's Mills, Va., June 27, 1862. 

Bullard, William P., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Oct. 
I, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Cameron, James E., Co. G, nth Reg., June 13, 1861, 
killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. 

Carter, Rufus B., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Casey, Daniel, Co. I, 6ist Reg., One Year, Jan. 16, 1865, 
mustered out July 16, 1865. 

Collier, Isaac, Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 8, 1862, wounded by 
shell at Fredericksburg Dec. 14, 1862, discharged for dis- 
ability Apr. 19, 1864. 

Conroy, John, Co. I, 6ist Reg., One Year, Jan. 17, 1865, 
mustered out July 16, 1865. 

Cooper, Hugh, Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 24, 
1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Corbett (Cobbett), James A., Co. K, 23d Reg., enlisted 
Aug. I, 1862, discharged Dec. 2, 1863, to re-enlist, dis- 
charged at expiration of service June 25, 1865. 

Coulter, George, Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Coulter, James C, Co. I, 30th Reg., Dec. 28, 1861, dis- 
charged to re-enlist Jan. i, 1864, sergeant Jan. i, 1865, 



496 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

mustered out July 5, 1866. Son of John S. He died July 
24, 1900, aged seventy- two years and twenty-five days, 
and was buried in Needham. 

Coulter, John S., Co. F, 20th Reg., Aug. 19, 1862, dis- 
charged Jan. 18, 1862. He was a bugler in the British army 
at Waterloo, when twenty-three years old, and enlisted in 
the Civil War at seventy. He died May 7, 1874, aged 
eighty-two years, and was buried in Needham. 

Crowley, Dennis, Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, discharged for disability Nov. 4, 1862. 

Dadmun, Newell H., Co. K, 44th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 12, 1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Dewing, Joseph H., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, sergeant June i, 1863, mustered out July 30, 
1863. 

Donley, Philip, Co. I, 6ist Reg., One Year, Jan. 16, 1865, 
mustered out July 16, 1865. His name does not appear in 
the town book. 

Eayrs, Joseph H., Co. E, 24th Reg., Nov. 17, 1861, served 
three years, and was discharged. 

Estabrook, George W., Co. A, 45th Reg., Sept. 26, 1862, 
mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Farly, Edward, Co. D, 56th Reg., Dec. 2, 1863, dis- 
charged for disability Apr. 3, 1865. Not in the town 
book. 

Fiske, Joseph E., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, first sergeant Dec. 3, 1862, post-adjutant at Beau- 
fort, S. C, Dec. 10, 1862, mustered out May 29, 1863. See 
Artillery. 

Flanagan, Patrick, Co. I, 38th Reg., Aug. 11, 1862, mus- 
tered out June 30, 1865. 

Flattery, Patrick, Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, dis- 
charged for disability June 20, 1865. 

Fox, Franklin M., Co. F, i8th Reg., Aug. 24, 1861, dis- 
charged for disability Dec. 31, 1861, re-enlisted from Lowell 
July 15, 1862. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 497 

Fuller, Albert, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. See Artillery. 

Fuller, Ezra Newell, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 12, 1862, died at New Berne, N. C, Feb. 21, 1863, 
aged nineteen years, buried in Needham. 

Fuller, Henry A., Co. A, 20th Reg., transferred to Veteran 
Volunteers, taken prisoner Aug. 25, 1864, died June 5, 1865. 

Fuller, William, Co. F, i8th Reg., Aug. 24, 1861, died 
Sept. 25, 1862, in Union Chapel Hospital, Washington, 
D. C, of wounds received at the second battle of Bull Run, 
Va., Aug. 30, 1862. 

Gehling, Joseph, Co. K, 32d Reg., Jan. 5, 1864, mustered 
out June 29, 1865; his first enlistment was from Newton, 
Aug. 13, 1862, and apparently was in the same company. 

Greenwood, John Wesley, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 12, 1862, discharged Apr. 18, 1863, because of wound 
received at Whitehall, N. C, Dec. 12, 1862. 

Guyot, Joseph, Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 24, 
1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Hall, David K., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, died of 
disease at Newport News, Va., Feb. 25, 1863; then a 
sergeant. 

Hammill (Hamil), Hugh, Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Hardie, Robert, Co. K, 31st Reg., Jan. 20, 1862, died in 
a hospital at Baton Rouge, La., Oct. 17, 1864. 

Hastings, John S., Co. K, 42d Reg., One hundred Days, 
July 18, 1864, mustered out Nov. 11, 1864. 

Hatch, Ambrose P., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Healey, Michael F., Co. K, 20th Reg., Dec. 14, 1864, 
mustered out July 16, 1865. 

Henderson, William H., Co. D, 42d Reg., One hundred 
Days, July 20, 1864, mustered out Nov. 11, 1864. 

Holmes, Charles, Co. B, 55th Reg., Aug. 22, 1864, mus- 
tered out Aug. 29, 1865. 



498 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Hotchkiss, Willard H., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Hunting, Israel, Jr., Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 12, 1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Hunting, Willard, Co. A, (I) 39th Reg., Aug. 18, 1862, 
died in Confederate prison at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. 7, 1864. 
He was captured Aug. 19. 

Johnson, Albert S., Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
12, 1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Jones, Alvah T., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 26, 
1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Jones, Pliny M., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 26, 
1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Juffs, Pedro, Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, mustered out 
July 12, 1865. 

Keith, Walter D., Captain 26th, unattached company of in- 
fantry. One Year, Dec. 15, 1864, mustered out May 12, 1865. 

Kennedy, Cornelius, Co. F, 40th Reg., Sept. 3, 1862, miss- 
ing after action May 16, 1864. 

Kibler, Frederick, Co. E, 42d Reg., One hundred Days, 
July 22, 1864, mustered out Nov. 11, 1864. 

Kingsbury, William H., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, died at Beaufort, N. C, Mar. i, 1863, aged 
twenty years, eight months; buried in Wellesley. 

Knapp, Charles P., Co. A, 39th Reg., Aug. 18, 1862, 
transferred to V. R. C. Feb. 5, 1864. 

Knapp, Cyrus W., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Knapp, George L., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, ser- 
geant Jan. I, 1865, mustered out June 9, 1865. 

Koff, Frederick, Co. K, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 16, 
1862, deserted at Readville Oct. 7, 1862. 

Lyon, Edward, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Lyon, Henry, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 499 

Manning, John S., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, dis- 
charged for disability Aug. 18, 1863. 

Marshall, John E., Co. C, 62d Reg., One Year, Mar. 24, 
1865, mustered out May 5, 1865. 

Marshall, John P., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863, enlisted in Co. A, 
56th Reg., Mar. i, 1864, mustered out at expiration of service 
July 12, 1865. 

Martel (Martell), John, Co. F, i8th Reg., Aug. 24, 1861, 
said to have been transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. 

Martin, Frank S., Co. I, 61 st Reg., Jan. 24, 1865, mustered 
out July 16, 1865. 

May, Albert S., Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, discharged Feb. 28, 1863, because of wound received 
at Whitehall, N. C, Dec. 16, 1862. 

McCarty, James, Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, mus- 
tered out July 12, 1865. 

McKinney, George, Co. F, 19th Reg., Aug. 28, 1861, re- 
enlisted Dec. 21, 1863, mustered out, as a member of Co. I, 
June 30, 1865. 

McLane, William H., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

McLoud, Robert M., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863; musician. 

Monnaghan, John, Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, mus- 
tered out July 9, 1865. 

Morse, Daniel F., Co. A, 39th Reg., Aug. 18, 1862, badly 
wounded and taken a prisoner at Spottsylvania May 8, 1864, 
paroled in Aug., mustered out July 2, 1865. 

Morton, William H., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Moseley, William, Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
12, 1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Murray, Henry, Co. I, 2d Reg., Jan. 24, 1865, transferred 
to Co. K, 33d Reg., June i, 1865, mustered out July 14, 
1865. 



500 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Newell, Charles, Co. B, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 12, 
1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Oakes, Joseph, Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 24, 
1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

O'Connor, Robert, unassigned recruit, 19th Reg., Jan. 16, 
1865, mustered out May 6, 1865. 

O'Leary, Arthur W., Co. B, 5th Reg., One Hundred Days, 
July 25, 1864, mustered out November 16, 1864. 

Palmer, George F., Co. E, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, discharged for disability Oct. 18, 1862. 

Ragan, Timothy O., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
26, 1862, mustered out July 7, 1863. 

Richards, Samuel F., Co. F, i8th Reg., Aug. 24, 1861, 
discharged for disability July 28, 1862. 

Richards, Samuel F., Co. B, 45th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 26, 1862, killed at Kinston, N. C, Dec. 14, 1862. 

Richardson, George, Co. F, i8th Reg., Oct. 24, 1861, 
wounded at the second battle of Bull Run Aug. 30, 1862, 
discharged for disability Oct. 13, 1862. 

Richardson, James, Co. F, 40th Reg., Sept. 3, 1862, 
mustered out June 16, 1865. 

Richardson, Samuel C, Co. F, 40th Reg., Sept. 3, 1862, 
severely wounded at Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20, 1864, dis- 
charged by order of the War Department June 30, 1865. 

Rimmele, William J., Co. I, 38th Reg., Aug. 21, 1862, 
mustered out June 30, 1865. 

Russell, William L., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Sargent, George, Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, dis- 
charged for disability Nov. 18, 1863; wagoner. 

Seagraves, Gilbert H., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Severance, Charles R., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863, re-enlisted in 
Co. A, 56th Reg., Mar. i, 1864, killed at Bethesda Church, 
Va., May 31, 1864. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 501 

Small, Edwin, Co. C, 33d Reg., Aug. 6, 1862, discharged 
for disability Jan. 19, 1865. 

Smith, Cornelius D., Co. F, i8th Reg., Aug. 24, 1861, 
corporal March i, 1864, acting orderly sergeant on the return 
of the regiment at completion of its service, mustered out 
Sept. 2, 1864. 

Smith, William H., Co. B, 22d Reg., Sept. 17, 1861, 
wounded at Cold Harbor, June, 1864, mustered out Oct. 17, 
1864. 

Snow, Joseph, Co. I, 38th Reg., Aug. 21, 1862, discharged 
for disability July 3, 1863. 

Stevens, Elbridge, Co. A, 39th Reg., Aug. 18, 1862, taken 
prisoner Aug. 19, 1864, was confined at Salisbury, N. C, 
died at Richmond, Va., while on his way home, Mar. 5, 1865, 
aged twenty-one years; buried in Wellesley (West Needham). 

Sumner, Lewis N., Co. K, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
16, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Taylor, Edwin A., Co. I, 38th Reg., Aug. 24, 1862, taken 
prisoner at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864, held four months 
at Libby Prison, in Richmond, Va., and at Salisbury, N. C, 
and then paroled, mustered out June 30, 1865. 

Thompson, William, Co. B, 22d Reg., Oct. 5, 1861, dis- 
charged for disability Feb. 18, 1863. See Cavalry. 

Turrbridge, John S., Co. I, 56th Reg., Feb. 4, 1864, dis- 
charged for disability Sept. 9, 1865. 

Wallace, William J., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, mus- 
tered out June 13, 1865. 

Walsh, Patrick, Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, killed at 
Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Wheeler, Samuel S., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, cor- 
poral, discharged at expiration of service June 9, 1865. 

Whitaker, Channing, Co. B, 39th Reg., Sept. 2, 1862, got 
three wounds at Spottsylvania May S, 1864, and was taken 
a prisoner, paroled Sept. i, later a clerk in the Adjutant- 
General's office at Washington, discharged at expiration of 
service June 19, 1865. 



502 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Whitmarsh, John G., Co. A, 44th Reg., Nine Months, 
Sept. 12, 1862, mustered out June 18, 1863. 

Wilkie, Joshua H., Captain of the 24th company of un- 
attached Infantry Feb. 7, 1865, mustered out May 12, 
1865. 

Willcutt, William, Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, dis- 
charged for disability Jan. 26, 1863. 

Wisner, Charles F., Co. F, 44th Reg., Nine Months, Aug. 
25, 1862, discharged May 25, 1863, re-enlisted in the nth 
Battery, Light Artillery, Jan. 2, 1864, corporal, mustered 
out June 16, 1865. 

Wisner, George P., Co. C, 43d Reg., Nine Months, Sept. 
24, 1862, mustered out July 30, 1863. 

Wood, Ephraim A., Co. C, 13th Reg., July 16, 1861, badly 
wounded at Antietam, discharged for disability Nov. 18,1 862, 
mustered as ist lieutenant in the 55th Reg., July 20, 1863, 
resigned Nov. 20, 1863. 

Woodman, John, Co. E, 2d Reg., Aug. 22, 1864, mustered 
out July 14, 1865. 

Wright, Samuel G., Co. I, 35th Reg., Aug. 16, 1862, died 
on board the steamer "Des Moines" Aug. 15, 1863. 

Needham was also credited with three negroes enlisted 
at Fortress Monroe, on July 4, 1864, for the 28th United 
States Colored Troops. The town books contain the names 
of forty-three men who enlisted, but were not finally cred- 
ited to this town; eleven, or twelve, of them do not appear 
to have been mustered into the service, and were perhaps 
rejected for physical weakness, or for other reasons. The 
writer has spent much time over the Civil War records, but 
is not satisfied that the list of soldiers is perfect. It is 
said that nothing yet published by the Commonwealth is to 
be relied upon. 

Cavalry 

Boling, George, Co. L, 5th Reg., Apr. 22, 1864, bugler, 
mustered out June 21, 1865. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 503 

Carter, Warren, Co. D, 2d Reg., Jan. 18, 1864, mustered 
out July 20, 1865. 

Clark, Joseph J., Co. M, 4th Reg., Mar. i, 1864, mustered 
out Nov. 14, 1865. 

Forrest, Henry, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 25, 
1864. 

Harmon, John, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 26, 
1864. 

HoUinbeck, William, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 25, 
1864. 

Hurd, Edwin, Co. D, ist Reg., Jan. i, 1864, mustered out 
June 29, 1865. 

Keith, Walter D., 5th Reg. See Infantry. 

Lewis, John, Co. K, 2d Reg., May 25, 1864, deserted 
June 25, 1864. 

McGregor, John H., 4th Reg., Mar. i, 1864, assistant sur- 
geon, discharged for disability, April 23, 1864. 

Moore, John, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., Aug. 23, 1864. 

Moran, Michael, Co. C, 4th Reg., Jan. 6, 1864, mustered 
out Nov. 14, 1865. 

Morris, Edward, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 26, 
1864. 

Morris, Samuel, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 26, 1864. 

Purple, Charles, Co. D, 4th Reg., Jan. 3, 1865, corporal, 
mustered out Nov. 14, 1865. 

Reynolds, John, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 26, 
1864. 

Stevens, John, unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 26, 1864, 
mustered out June 24, 1865. 

Thompson (Thomson), William, Co. M, 4th Reg., Mar. i, 
1864, discharged at expiration of service Nov. 14, 1865. See 
Infantry. 

Travers, William H., unassigned recruit, 2d Reg., May 25, 
1864. 

Vernon, John E., Co. B, 4th Reg., Dec. 22, 1864, deserted 
Sept. 18, 1865. 



S04 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Wllkie, Joshua H., 5th Reg. See Infantry. 
Woods, Albert A., Co. K, 3d Reg., Aug. 6, 1862, died in 
New Orleans, Mar. 21, 1863. 



Artillery 

Bachman, Frederick H., Co. B, 4th Reg. Heavy Artillery, 
One Year, Aug. 23, 1864, mustered out June 17, 1865. 

Brigham, Francis O., 2d Battery, Light Artillery, July 31, 
1861, discharged at expiration of service Aug. 16, 1864. 

Dill, John, Co. L, 3d Reg. Heavy Artillery, May 30, 1864, 
deserted July 10, 1864. 

Farnsworth, Abram C, Co. L, ist Reg. Heavy Artillery, 
Dec. 9, 1861, mustered out Dec. 17, 1864. 

Fiske, Joseph E., 2d Reg. Heavy Artillery, June 4, 1863, 
as 2d lieutenant, ist lieutenant July 30, 1863, captain Oct. 
9, 1863, was in command of Fort Gray, Plymouth, N. C, 
and surrendered his force of one hundred and fifty men when 
his superior officer surrendered on Apr. 20, 1864, all the Fed- 
eral troops at Plymouth. Captain Fiske was a prisoner at 
Andersonville, Macon, Ga., at Savannah, at Charleston and 
at Columbia, S. C, till Feb. 13, 1865, when he escaped. He 
was later on the staff of General Francis P. Blair of the 17th 
Army Corps, and was mustered out May 15, 1865. See 
Infantry. 

Fuller, Albert, Co. D, 2d Reg. Heavy Artillery, Aug. 22, 
1863, quartermaster's sergeant, mustered out Sept. 3, 1865. 

Fuller, George, Co. B, 4th Reg. Heavy Artillery, One Year, 
Aug. 20, 1864, deserted May 15, 1865. 

Freeman, Joseph, Co. D, 2d Reg. Heavy Artillery, Aug. 
22, 1863, died at New Berne, N. C, July 2, 1864. He had 
served in the Infantry earlier in the war, enlisting from 
Newton. 

Herring, William, loth Battery, Light Artillery, Sept. 9, 
1862, mustered out June 9, 1865. 

Marshall, Frederick F., Co. B, 2d Reg. Heavy Artillery, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 505 

July 29, 1863, corporal, discharged at expiration of service 
Sept. 3, 1865. 

Murray, George M., Co. M, 1st Reg. Heavy Artillery, 
Mar. 4, 1862, mustered out Mar. 30, 1864, to re-enlist. 

Nichols, Stephen, 7th Battery, Light Artillery, Jan. 21, 

1864, mustered out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Simpson, Frederick J., Co. G, ist Reg. Heavy Artillery, 
Dec. 3, 1863, died in prison at Florence, S. C, Nov. 4, 1864. 
His first enlistment was at Charlestown. 

Varney, Henry P., Co. L, 3d Reg. Heavy Artillery, Aug. 
23, 1864, corporal, mustered out Sept. 18, 1865. 

Withington, Charles P., Co. L, 3d Reg. Heavy Artillery, 
Aug. 31, 1864, discharged at expiration of service June 17, 

1865. See Navy. 

Wright, Edwin, Co. A, 3d Reg. Heavy Artillery, Dec. 10, 
1863, deserted Jan. 26, 1864. 

Engineer Corps 

Peabody, Charles E., enlisted in the Engineer Corps Oct. 
4, 1861, promoted artificer Jan. i, 1862, but it does not appear 
whether he was credited to Needham or not. 

Veteran Reserve Corps 

Anthis, Philip, Aug. 22, 1864. 

Ceolins, Clarkson, Dec. 20, 1864. 

Dance?, Charles W., Dec. 20, 1864. 

Greany?, George, Aug. 20, 1864. 

Harley, William A., Aug. 15, 1864. 

Huth, John, Aug. 17, 1864. 

Johnson, William, Dec. 20, 1864. 

M°Loughlin, Patrick, Aug. 19, 1864. 

Milliken, Robert, Aug. 17, 1864. 

Moore, George, Dec. 20, 1864; deserted Feb. 20, i866(?). 

It does not appear that any of these ten men were residents 
of Needham, and their names are not in the town's book, 



5o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

which contains the records of its soldiers. Since the Civil 
War many veterans, including a brevet Major-General, 
have made their homes in Needham, but in 1907 only four 
of the men who filled the town's quota were residents within 
its limits. In the old cemetery are an ever increasing num- 
ber of G. A. R. markers, and the Soldiers' Lot has each year 
more tenants, besides new graves of veterans in private 
lots. 

NAVY 

Needham is credited with thirty-nine men furnished for 
the Navy, but few of whom belonged in the town. Unless 
otherwise indicated, the time for which the recruit shipped 
was one year. The list is as follows: 

Allen, Andrew, Feb. 15, 1863, Anderson, Andrew, Aug. 
22, 1864, three years, Andrews, Henry, Feb. 20, 1863, 
Barry, James, Aug. 12, 1862, Bigelow, Albert, Feb. 11, 1863, 
Brown, Daniel H., Mar. 11, 1863, Foster, William, May 
17, 1864, three years. Grant, George D., Dec. 22, 1864, 
three years, Hanson, Carl, Apr. 18, 1863, Hazard, Frank W., 
Apr. 18, 1863, Pheeney, William, Mar. 17, 1863, Reynolds, 
Bernard, Mar. 16, 1863, Shaw, William, Jan. 20, 1863, 
Sheperd, John, Dec. 14, 1861, three years. Smith, John, 3d, 
Dec. 17, 1861, three years. Smith, Noah, Dec. 17, 1861, 
three years. Smith, William E., Dec. 18, 1861, three years. 
Snider, Stephen, Dec. 26, 1861, three years, Sullivan, Dennis, 
Nov. 7, 1862, Symonds, Daniel, Dec. 23, 1861, three years, 
Tibbetts, Edward H., Jan. i, 1862, two years, Todd, Robert, 
Dec. 14, 1861, three years, Trefry, James, Jan. 14, 1862, 
three years, Trudo, Francis M., Jan. 6, 1862, two years, 
Wakefield, Josiah J., Aug. 29, 1862, Wallace, Charles, Aug. 
26, 1862, Ward, Abner, Aug. 25, 1862, Ward, John H., 
Aug. 26, 1862, Welch, Michael, Apr. 24, 1863, Wentworth, 
George, Aug. 22, 1862, Wheeler, Henry, Aug. 15, 1862, 
White, William, Apr. 14, 1863, Willard, Henry, Aug. 26, 
1862, Williams, George J., Aug. 26, 1862, Williams, Michael, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 507 

Mar. 23, 1863, Wise, Pliny, Aug, 27, 1862, Withan, Francis, 
Aug. 26, 1862, Withington, Charles P., Feb. 13, 1862, three 
years, discharged for disability, Aug. 4, 1863, Wood, Charles 
H., Aug. 25, 1862. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 

Abbott Post, No. 21, G. A. R., was organized in 1871?, 
and included ten East Needham veterans, and a larger 
number living in the West part of the town. It met the 
first Monday in each month, alternately in Parker and 
Waban Halls, and the town at different times paid for the use 
of these halls by the Post, and from 1874 regularly assumed 
this expense. In 1875 all of the meetings were held in 
Waban Hall. This Post survived the division of the town, 
but was dissolved. 

The first commander was Capt. Joseph E. Fiske, who 
served two years, or more, and the last one was George 
Henry Robbins. On July 29, 1873, the town authorized 
its treasurer to convey to Abbott Post, G. A. R., a lot of 
land in Grantville on the condition that a hall was to be 
erected thereon, otherwise the ground was to revert to the 
town, as in fact it did. The old Grantville school-house, 
now a double dwelling, stands on this G. A. R. lot, and is 
the third house on Washington Street south of Forest 
Street. The first appropriation for the observance of 
Decoration Day was in 1872, and was $200. In 1874 the 
town referred to the selectmen the matter of putting Civil 
War names on the monument erected to the memory of the 
Soldiers of the Revolution, but it was wisely concluded to 
wait and have another memorial. 

Galen Orr Post, No. 181, was formed on June 5, 1885, 
with sixteen members. It was named in honor of the able 
and efficient chairman of the selectmen of Needham during 
the War, and in recognition of what he did for the cause and 
for the soldiers. On May 31, 1886, Mrs. Orr presented the 
Post with a beautiful silk flag, which was received in its 



508 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

behalf by Dr. Albert D. Kingsbury, its first commander. 
In 1890 there were forty members, who represented regiments 
from eight States and also the Naval Service. The Post 
then met twice each month, on Thursday evenings, in Kings- 
bury Block. At the close of 1907 there were but eighteen 
members of this Post. 

From its formation the Post has had charge of the ob- 
servance of Memorial Day, which has been admirably com- 
memorated by addresses in the town hall, and by the decora- 
tion of the graves of soldiers, including those of the War 
of the American Revolution, in the two cemeteries of the 
town. For years the Post has owned a fine, sightly lot in 
the Needham Cemetery, where many comrades are buried, 
but until 1902 the monument was of wood, when the money 
required for the present handsome and appropriate memorial 
was secured through the efforts of members of the Post. 
They also obtained from the Government of the United 
States the four huge siege guns, which form the monument, 
and the shells now grouped in piles about them. 

Galen Orr Relief Corps No. 85 was organized on March 
3, 1887, with twenty-three members. The Relief Corps 
has met by invitation with the G. A. R. on public occasions, 
and at other times has held separate meetings, usually 
twice each month. There were forty members in 1890, 
and the same number in 1908. General Benjamin F. Butler 
Camp No. 109, Sons of Veterans, was instituted on April 
3, 1890, and was dissolved in 1904. 

Ezra Newell Fuller Camp No. 'j']^ Sons of Veterans, was 
instituted in June, 1907, and had participated in the observ- 
ances of Memorial Day in that year. It is named in memory 
of a young soldier from Needham, a native of the town, 
who gave his life that the Union might be preserved. 

In March, 1902, the town voted to give the Post the use 
of the large room which had been leased for the library; 
the latter had been removed to the new High School 
building. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 509 

George Warren Colburn, who has been commander of 
Galen Orr Post, and for many years an active member, is 
a native of Needham, and has passed most of his Hfe here, 
although his war record is as follows : while a minor he was 
mustered into the Thirty-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volun- 
teers on September 7, 1861, and discharged at Louisville on 
July 12, 1865. 

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898 

On July 2, 1898, at 6 P.M., the citizens of Needham gave 
a "Reception and banquet to the 'Needham Boys' who have 
volunteered their services to their country, and are about 
to leave for the Front". This gathering was in the town 
hall, in the May Building, and the following soldiers were 
present: — John W. Jones, Fred L. Fanning, Oscar C. A. 
Child, Charles L. Barnes, Thomas E. Wye, all of Needham, 
and Richard C. Spear of Dover. 

In this war Needham was represented by twelve or fifteen 
men: — John William Jones, Oscar Carpenter Appleton 
Child and Charles Leland Barnes enlisted at Framingham 
on June 22, 1898, and were in Company C of the Fifth 
Massachusetts United States Volunteers. They went to 
Camp Meade, Steelton, Pa., about September 5, thence to 
Camp Wetherell, at Grenville, S. C, about November 9, 
where they were mustered out on March 31, 1899. Charles 
L. Barnes became a corporal while at Camp Wetherell. 
Fred L. Fanning enlisted at the same time and place as the 
others, and in the same regiment. He was a hospital stew- 
ard, and was discharged at Framingham about the first 
week in August. Thomas E. Wye enlisted in Company C, 
Fifth Massachusetts United States Volunteers, on June 
22, 1898, and was at the following camps: — South Fra- 
mingham, Meade, and Wetherell; he was a corporal, and was 
mustered out with the regiment on March 31, 1899. He 
became a member of the same company in the Massachusetts 
Volunteer Militia on May 25, 1899, was commissioned 2d 



510 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

lieutenant on July 17, 1899, and resigned August 8, 1903. 
He was born In Leicester, England, April 9, 1873.^ 

William J. Hall, a son of Thomas Hall and grandson of 
Charles S. Hall, enlisted at Charlestown in Company A, 
Fifth Massachusetts United States Volunteers (Infantry), 
and later became a first sergeant in Company H, Forty- 
third United States Volunteers (Infantry). He had an 
excellent record, and was killed in the Island of Panay, 
Visayas, Philippines, April 15, 1900, aged twenty-one years, 
six months and eight days. It is said that the soldiers were 
massacred by the natives in a church. One of his near rela- 
tives says that he was killed in action at Catubig, on the 
Island of Samar, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, 
in Maiden, Massachusetts. 

Thomas Overton of Needham served in the United States 



' His eldest brother, John James Wye, is an honorably discharged British 
soldier, who served in the First Brigade of the Royal Artillery for twelve years, 
during seven of which he was battery sergeant-major in India. Another brother, 
Joseph A. Wye, was a sergeant in Company G, First Regiment Illinois Infantry 
Volunteers in the Spanish-American War. He went from Chicago to Springfield 
on April 26, 1898, then to Chickamauga, Ga., May 17, whence he marched to 
Ringgold, Ga., on June 3, and from there went to Port Tampa, Fla., June 5, thence 
to Key West, Fla., on July 17, to Santiago and Guantanamo, Cuba, on July 9, 
1898. Was under fire at Guanica, Puerto Rico, July 25 and 26, and went to Ponce 
on July 28. He was detailed for duty with the Engineers at regimental head- 
quarters on June 19, and his record both for his service, which is designated "dis- 
tinguished," and for character was excellent. These three brothers are great- 
grandsons of one of Wellington's veterans, who was a "soldier of Waterloo." 
The Wye family is remarkable for energy and longevity, and until the death in 
February, 191 1, of William Wye of Leicester, England, at the age of ninety-eight, 
the family had the very unusual distinction of having five generations in the 
male line living at one time. William Wye's father is said to have lived to be one 
hundred and seven, and last November John Wye of Leicester, an elder brother 
of William, received congratulations on completing a hundred years. Two sisters 
were then living in their eighties, and his deceased brothers had by no means died 
young, as Joseph was eighty-five, Henry eighty-seven and Thomas ninety. John 
T. Wye, son of William, and father of the soldiers, was born in Leicester January 
3, 1839, and came to Needham from England in January, 1881. His wife and 
younger children followed in July of that year. Mr. Wye is a manufacturer, and 
is well known as a writer of verse. For seventeen years he has produced appro- 
priate verses for each recurring Memorial Day, and has written for other anni- 
versaries and occasions. His sons William H. and George E. Wye did not come 
to this country till some years after their father, but in a comparatively short time 
became successful manufacturers, and acquired honorable positions in the con- 
munity. Two of the sons of William H. Wye have graduated from Harvard Uni- 
versity, and a daughter from Wellesley College. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 511 

Navy during this war, and was stationed for some time at 
Washington as an orderly. He enlisted in New York. 

Colin M'=Math enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Massa- 
chusetts United States Volunteers, later the Twenty-sixth 
Regiment of Infantry of the United States Army, and saw 
service in Cuba under Colonel Rice. At the conclusion of 
his term of enlistment he was given a reception at Highland- 
ville, now Needham Heights, where he had lived for many 
years, and was presented with a watch and chain. He 
re-enlisted in the Twenty-first Regiment of Infantry of 
the United States Army. 

There was another young man who enlisted from Needham 
in the volunteer service during the Spanish War, but he 
did not go out of the United States, and does not wish his 
name to appear. 

Franklin W. Slaney enlisted on September 12, 1904, in 
the Twenty-first Regiment of Infantry of the United States 
Army, and went to Manilla in 1905. He was nine months 
in Camp Clorenta, East Samara, seven months in Camp 
Connell, Calbayog, West Samara, and two months at 
Ormoc, Island of Leyte, presumably at Camp Downes. 
He participated in numerous skirmishes with the natives, 
and did much provost duty. 

Undoubtedly other young men of this town have served 
in the Army or Navy of the United States, but their names 
are unknown to the writer notwithstanding inquiries. There 
certainly have been citizens of Needham who were in the 
British Army in their youth, and their records would be of 
great interest if obtained. 



Jfinancial 



The following illustrates the financial condition of the 
town at different periods, and its method of doing business. 

From time to time rates were made to pay town debts, 
and on February 15, 1714, it was voted that all persons 
to whom money was due from the town should have orders 
on the constable "only this is to be minded that the town 
debts to other towns Shoul be payed first". Contributions 
were taken up for different purposes, usually for Church 
needs. In 171 5 Captain Fisher, Lieutenant Cook and John 
Smith, Sr., passed the box on "Lords days". A special 
contribution for the support of the Gospel, independent 
of the rates, was voted on November 6, 1716. The people 
were "to go to the box," "furder more it was voted in ffuU 
that Timothy Kingsbery Should take Care of the money 
that was gathered & keep an account of what was Given 
free as well as what was papered up & all that was put in 
to the box without bein papered with the man's Name on 
it is to be accounted free it was voted allso that Timothy 
Kingsbery Should Reciue of the Constable the money 
which he gatheres for the minesters ". On March 14, 1719/20, 
John Smith, Sr., was chosen "to hould out y^ box upon Sab- 
bath Days & Diliue y® money to Josiah Kingsbery treas- 
urer". In 17 19 Eleazer Ellis and Nathaniel Chickering 
each gave ten shillings, and Jonathan Battelle twelve shil- 
lings, to help pay the minister at Needham. These "Sprig- 
feld Nabors" lived in what is now Dover, and attended 
Church in Needham, as did some families from Newton. 
Occasional, or monthly, contributions toward the minister's 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 513 

salary, or as an addition to it, are referred to in the town 
records. On May 16, 1733, the town voted to pay Mr. 
Townsend £20 "in the Roome of the Contribution", but 
people might continue to contribute, the minister to keep 
an account, and it was to be "free Money" unless receipts 
were taken "Directed to the Conftable". A year later the 
town voted to continue the contribution, and Jeremiah 
Woodcock was to notify the people of the same "on the 
Lords Day Evening before the Saboth that the Monthly 
Contribution" was expected. These contributions were 
on the first Sundays of January, April, July and October 
in 1725 and were gifts to the minister, but later on "the 
First Saboth in Each & Every month in the year" was the 
day for the collection. 

On June 30, 1740, the "ouer Plufh of the minifters Rates 
the Last year", was voted to Mr. Townsend, but in the 
years that followed the town was not always as liberal. In 
1746 the "over Plufh" amounted to £8, 7s. There was 
some controversy with Mr. Townsend arising from the 
depreciation of the currency, and in 1750 the town claimed 
that £73, 6s., 8d. were equal to £90 "as Silver went when 
he firft Setteled amongst us". In 1741 they voted him 
£200, of which £40 was "in Land Bank Bills as it Now 
paffes fouer Dubble". Mr. Townsend objected to these 
bills, and, after the town had once declined to meet his 
wishes, it later did so and the Land Bank Bills were "not 
Raifed". The town treated their minister fairly on the 
whole, and were ready to make good his salary. In 1748 
a committee reported that £305, old tenor, was really due 
to him for 1746, '47 and '48, and the town voted him £14 
in "Lawfull Money", and finally made up the arrears. In 
1755 there was a vote to pay him interest on £40, 13s., 4d. 
from 1751. On March 11, 1765, Josiah Newell, Esq., Dea. 
John Fisher and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen to 
reckon with the Rev. Samuel West for preaching before his 
ordination. The foregoing has been condensed from a mass 



514 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

of material, and seems worthy of some space, as the minis- 
ter's salary was the principal item of the town expenses. 

CURRENCY AND TOWN DEBTS 

In 1728 Ensign Thomas Fuller, Dea. Timothy Kings- 
bery and Robert Fuller were chosen "Truftees for to Draw 
or tack out thire part of the Sixty Thousand pounds Now 
in y® Tresurey of this Proviunce". This action referred 
to one of the numerous issues of Bills of Credit by the 
General Court, which bills were to be distributed to the 
towns to increase the money in circulation. The towns 
were to appoint as trustees men worth not less than £500 
each, who were to let out this money so that it should net 
6%, of which the Province was to receive 2%. This par- 
ticular issue was that of 1727, but in 1710 there had been 
one of £16,500, and in 1721 of £50,000, which latter involved 
a special tax. In 1736 Josiah Kingsbery, Dea. Timothy 
Kingsbery and Jonathan Smith were to let out the "Towns 
Money now in bonds", and in 1740 the selectmen and town 
clerk were to reckon with "the Trustees of the Loan Money 
and to Recon with the Committy that was to Let out the 
Towns Money". Similar committees were appointed later, 
and in 1743 Aaron Smith, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery and 
Jonathan Smith were to call in this money, and to let it 
out on new security. Evidently to call in the money was 
easier than to get it, and in 1744 Jonathan Smith, Amos 
Fuller and Dea. Timothy Kingsbery were to see what they 
could accomplish. In 1759 the town voted to call in its 
money "that is in the truftees hands", £20 of it to be used 
for the town charges, and Lieut. Robert Fuller was chosen 
"a truftee to add to the former truftees that have the Care 
of the towns money". In 1761 the town voted to "Impour" 
the town's money. 

There was a time during the War of the Revolution when 
one shilling in hard money was worth forty shillings in Con- 
tinental currency for commercial purposes, but the soldiers 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 515 

were paid on the basis of thirty-six to one. By Act of the 
General Court in 1781 the bills of the "New Emision" 
were to be received in the proportion of one and seven 
eighths dollars for one dollar in hard money. In 1782 the 
town directed its collectors to "take One hard Dollor in 
Lue of three of the New Emifion Untill the firft Day of 
July Next". That year the town turned into its treasury 
£227, 19s., 3d. "they over paid in the New Emifion Tax", 
and which had been returned by vote of the General Court. 
In 1735 Thom.as Fuller, Timothy Kingsbery, Nathaniel 
Bullard, Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith were chosen 
"to fearch the Towns a Ccompts Refpecting the towns 
Debt & Credit", and they were to report on the first Wed- 
nesday in September if it was a "Lectuer Day", otherwise 
on the first lecture day after that date. Their report was 
accepted on October i, after two adjournments. In 1737 
the tovv^n reconsidered the vote passed in March granting 
a rate of £40 for repairing and building pews in the meeting- 
house "as the felect men Have Raifed the fame by the Rate 
Made in the year 1736". In March, 1738/9, the committee 
to reckon with the town treasurer was directed to set in 
the treasurer's book the debit and credit and "to bring it 
to the Town". 

On May 23, 1776, Josiah Newell, Esq., "was Chofen 
to take Cognizance of Debts agreeable to the act of the 
General Court". For three years, 1777-9, Capt. Eleazer 
Kingsbery was chosen to perform this duty, and in 1780 
he was followed by John Slack, who was succeeded for 1781 
by "Crowner" Nathaniel Fisher, when the office apparently 
ceased to exist in Needham. 

Early in 178 1 a committee of nine was "to Search y® 
Town Books from the year 1770 " "to See what the Town is 
in Debt". This task required eight days for which the mem- 
bers of the committee charged at the rate of three shillings 
per day each, the usual pay of a town officer at that time, 
when performing special duties. In March of that year 



5i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the town chose Captains Eleazer Kingsbery, Moses Bullard 
and Aaron Smith "to meet at Dedham in Conference with 
Other Towns in the County of Suffolk, Relating to money 
matters", and voted forty to five against "a Late Act of 
the General Court, Relating to Money". In July the town 
authorized the selectmen to settle with Amos Fuller, the 
town treasurer "for his Extraordinary Service in Serving 
in the Office of Town Treafurer this year". Mr. Fuller was 
allowed £3, which was his annual salary for some years, 
although in 1788 it was reduced to £1, i6s. In 175 1 the 
town had refused to pay Captain Cook anything for his 
services as its treasurer for several years, although by 1792 
there was a fixed salary of £2, 8s., or $12, and this was 
unchanged in 1840, but in 1850 had been raised to $20, 
and in 1879 was $240. In March, 1907, the town increased 
the salary of its treasurer from $300 to $500. 

In 1782 Michael Metcalf, Capt. Aaron Smith, Amos 
Fuller, Lieut. William Fuller and Colonel Mcintosh were a 
committee "to See what money the Town Owes and to 
Settle with all the Committees that have not been Settled 
with And alfo to See what is owing to the Town". Their 
report was rejected in November, but adopted in part in 
December. In 1785 Capt. Aaron Smith, Lieut. William 
Fuller, Capt. Silas Alden, Moses Fisk and Deacon Shepard 
were chosen "To See what is become of the Town's Money, 
or how it has been laid Out", and made a report. In 1787 
Messrs. Smith and Fisk, with Enoch Parker, whose name 
is first, were "to Search the Records to See how much the 
Town is In Debt". In 1791 a committee of five was chosen 
"to give the Town Treaf"" Inftructions ", and to examine 
the books of Amos Fuller, the late treasurer. A committee 
of three was "to Collect the paper money that is the towns 
property", and in 1791 £20 were appropriated for the 
"Deficiencys of Some of the former Collectors with the 
County", and later that year £130 were voted to pay town 
debts, with the proviso that if this tax was not paid to the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 517 

treasurer on or before January i, 1792, he was to take 
"Executions on the Collectors". Capt. Josiah Newell was 
to dispose of the "Paper money that is the Town Property". 
It is not clear what was the result of the votes passed in 
1791. 

TOWN DEBT 

The amount of the town debt at different periods has been: 
i860 $6000, 1865 (December 31) $35,289.81, 1870 $54,750, 
1880 $60,000, 1900 $198,000, 1905 $292,000, 1910 $308,500. 

In 1 88 1 Needham's share of the town debt was $23,788.38, 
but this was practically extinguished by money received 
from Wellesley, and until 1890 there was no town debt 
other than temporary loans in anticipation of taxes. On 
March 19, 1900, the town voted to refund, rather than to 
pay, the maturing water and high school bonds, authority 
having been obtained from the General Court to do so. 
This far-reaching departure by the town from its con- 
servative financial policy was opposed by the writer and 
others, William G. Moseley making an able speech against 
it. In March, 1908, although the tax rate was high, it 
was voted to resume paying a portion of these maturing 
bonds. 

In 1837 the surplus revenue was distributed by the 
Federal Government to the States, and thus indirectly 
to the cities and towns. Needham voted to apply $2000 
of its share to pay off the mortgage on the town farm, which 
apparently had been reduced $500 the year before, and 
also voted to create a school fund of $2000. 

In 1854 there was discussion as to reimbursing the town 
treasurer, Elisha Lyon, to the amount of $181, which he 
had paid to the town. This sum of money had been burned, 
while temporarily on deposit in his bed, when his house was 
consumed in March, 1853. The vote desired by Deacon 
Lyon finally passed. This was not the first loss of money 
that the town had had from fire, as in 17 14, or early in 



Si8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

17 1 5, the house of Constable Matthias Ockinton was burned, 
with his accounts, and confusion resulted as to who had 
paid rates and who had not. The constable questioned 
the statements of some persons who claimed that they had 
paid in full, or in part. 

COMMITTEE TO RECKON WITH THE TOWN TREASURER, 
AND AUDITORS 

The question of the efficient auditing of the town ac- 
counts has always furnished material for discussion, and 
has often been referred to a special committee. On March 
20, 1727, Sergeant John Smith and Josiah Kingsbery were 
chosen a "Commity to Reckon with the Town Treferue ". 
A committee of three (apparently of four in 18 18) was 
chosen annually until 1859, when the selectmen and town 
clerk were made an auditing committee. On April 2, i860, 
the town chose Edgar K. Whitaker, George K. Daniell and 
Robert Mansfield as auditors, thus finally changing the 
old name of this committee. In 1882 the number of auditors 
was reduced to two, and on March 5, 1900, the town voted 
that the auditors should be auditors of accounts, and chose 
two for 1900, with the proviso that subsequently there 
was to be but one, and he was to receive a small salary. 

The Town Auditors since 1901 have been: — 

Harrie S. Whittemore 1901 (who also served in 1897- 
1900), Leonard Dawson 1902-6, five years, Walter F. Snow 
1907-9 (resigned August i), Arthur E. Smith 1909 (ap- 
pointed by the selectmen in August) - 

The town gave special attention to the matter of audit- 
ing its accounts in 1875, 1893, 1^94 ^^^ 1900. 

On January 13, 1910, the town adopted a code of by-laws, 
and under section 5 the moderator was directed to appoint 
at the annual meeting a Finance Committee consisting of 
nine citizens, who were to serve for terms of one, two and 
three years, and he was given authority to name the suc- 
cessors of those whose terms expired at each annual meeting 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 519 

for all time. This extraordinary by-law was amended at the 
annual meeting on March 7, and beginning with 191 1 the 
members of this committee were to be elected the same as 
other town officers. Leonard Dawson, John E. Buckley 
and John A. Tllton were chosen In 191 1. 

Benjamin Slack, Esq., served on the committee to reckon 
with the town treasurer for twenty-three years between 
1799 and 1836. In 1902 the town appropriated $150 to 
pay for the bonds of certain town officers, and there has 
since been an annual grant for this purpose. 

It is a singular coincidence that the earliest treasurer's 
book of the Town of Needham, 1730-69, and also that of 
the first treasurer of the First Parish in Needham, 1778- , 
are both In the possession of the New England Historic 
Genealogical Society. 

ASSESSMENT OF TAXES — ASSESSORS 

There has been the same general system of taxation in 
Massachusetts from its first settlement to the present 
time. 

In 1735 It was necessary to levy a separate rate to raise 
money voted for the assistance of a poor woman and her 
child, because the assessors then combined only such appro- 
priations as the town by a special vote directed, and for 
many years from May 21, 1733, such votes were annually 
passed. The County tax often formed a part of the general 
town rate, but not the Province tax, or the minister's 
salary. For many of the years the same individuals were 
chosen both as selectmen and as assessors, but were sepa- 
rately elected and sworn. In 1766 Joslah Newell, Esq., 
absolutely refused to serve as selectman if he must also be 
assessor; the town yielded, and chose a distinct board of 
assessors. The same situation existed at other times. In 
1726 Captain Cook was chosen "Commlffioner for Affeff- 
ment," and in 1732/3 assessors who were not also selectmen 
were elected for the first time in this town. At the annual 



520 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

meeting in 1748/9 the assessors were chosen by a hand 
vote instead of by the customary "paper vote." In the 
record for March 6, 1729/30, there is a quaint account of 
an agreement by the assessors to pay from their own pockets 
the "Rats" of John Smith, Jr., whom they had in error 
assessed in both Hsts, and it appears that on the 7th they 
paid; a course which later assessors have not followed. In 
1736/7 the town voted that "the allefers Should keep a 
Copey of the Lifts of the Rats from Year to Year and deliver 
them to the next affefers that are Chofen." 

In 1850 the town voted to choose an assessor in each 
school district, the Lower Falls to have two, but on recon- 
sideration four assistant assessors were elected to partici- 
pate in making a general valuation. In 1889 the three- 
year term for assessors was adopted, but in 1894 the town 
returned to annual elections of selectmen and assessors, in 
consequence of the alleged arbitrary conduct of the former. 
In 1904 the assessors were chosen for one, two and three 
years respectively, the town having voted on March 2, 
1903, to resume electing them for three-year terms, but 
not the selectmen. 

The assessors have always been paid by the day, and in 
1727 Thomas Metcalf and Eleazer Kingsbery were allowed 
£1 each for assisting in taking a valuation that year, and 
the assessors, who were also selectmen, were granted £4, 8s. 
In 1735 it cost £5 to assess a Province tax, and £1 for a 
town tax. On June 4, 175 1, the town voted the assessors 
for 1749 £2 "to be Equaly divided amongft them", and in 
February, 175 1/2, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., had an order for 
twelve shillings for making rates in 1750. On October 4, 
1752, the town refused to have a rate to pay former as- 
sessors, "or any of them," but in 1761 the assessors were 
paid four shillings each per day for taking a special valua- 
tion. The number of days that each man worked was as 
follows : — Amos Fuller five days, Lemuel Pratt seven and 
one half days, Robert Fuller ten and one half days, Samuel 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 521 

Mackentire eight days and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery eleven 
days. 

In 1765 and 1766 the assessors were paid two shillings 
per day each, for taking the valuation, and In 1768 three 
shillings per day, which continued to be their compensation 
for some years, with the addition of the sum of sixteen 
shillings each "for making the rates". During the period 
of the greatest depreciation of the currency, which was 
in 1779 and in 1780, Michael Metcalf was paid £102 for 
thirty-four days taking a valuation, and Colonel M'^Intosh 
£540 for forty-two days. Lieut. Samuel Townsend was 
granted £1, los. "for his Copying of the Single Rate, and 
the State Tax laft June (1778) to Send to the General Court". 
In the years prior to 1776 the town paid annually 2s., 6d. 
for the paper for the use of the assessors. If all of the 
assessors worked it usually required about fourteen days 
to complete the valuation, make the rates, apportion the 
highway taxes and school money to the districts, and to 
issue the warrants, including those to the surveyors of the 
highways. 

For seventy-five years there was little increase in the 
time required to assess and "make" the taxes, but a "Gen- 
eral Valuation" nearly doubled the number of days con- 
sumed, and in 1850 such a valuation cost over $500, an un- 
paralleled amount for that period. In 1795 the assessors were 
paid 66f cents per day each, In 1798 $1, in 1830 $1.25, in 
1850 $2 per day each, and, with the exception of a few years, 
they have rarely received more than the minimum allowed 
by law. The compensation of the entire board, including 
clerk hire and the use of horses, has been: — 1830 $40, 
1840 $53, 1852 $85, i860 $485.23, 1870 $663, 1880 $590.13, 
1882 $264.35, 1890 $437-50, 1895 $336. In 1905 the annual 
cost of the assessors' department had increased to nearly 
$1000, and in 1910 to about $1900. 

In 1840 the assessors were paid $36.25 for taking a census, 
and have done similar work at other times, repeatedly 



522 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

making annual lists of the children of school age. The 
writer when chairman of the assessors discontinued the 
school census as there were individuals glad to do it for 
$15, and it cost the town much more to employ its assessors 
in that way, besides interfering with other duties. 

COLLECTION OF TAXES — COLLECTORS 

The tax lists, not the valuation lists, form a part of the 
town records to January, 1732/3, but no other lists appear 
to be in existence prior to 1780, with the exception of the 
one for 1749 now in the State Archives. 

On May 22, 1778, John Ayers was chosen collector for 
the East and Isaac Goodenow, Jr., for the West, and they 
appear to have been the first tax collectors in Needham as 
distinct from the constables, between whom the rates for 
the East and West had been divided as nearly as might be. 
Mr. Ayers declined to serve, and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery 
was elected on May 28, and duly sworn. These two "Col- 
lectors to Collect y^ Rates" were allowed 4d. in the £, 
but only 3d. in the £ for War taxes. The practice of letting 
out the taxes to the lowest bidder, or bidders, dates from 
1 78 1, when sureties acceptable to the town were required 
on the bond of each collector. The same year the town 
directed that its treasurer "Should Send out his Execution 
by the Fifteenth Day of December Next on the Delinquent 
Collectors," and should settle with them "According to 
the Scale of Depreciation and the Collectors to Collect the 
money Agreeable to the time they were Directed to pay 
the Money into the Town Treaf?." In March, 1786, a 
committee was "to Proportion Fifty Dollors to y° Delin- 
quent Collectors, what each of them Should pay into the 
Town Treaf= in a week." In 1790 all of the collectors for 
ten years were found to be in arrears, and £528, 13s., 5d. 
were due the town from them; in 1794 nine different col- 
lectors were in debt to the town, covering a period of fif- 
teen years. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 523 

In 1782 £1, 15s., 3d. were allowed for collecting the 
"Meeting Houfe" tax of £104, 19s., 6d., 2f.; in 1787 the 
collector was to have 7d. in the £ for the ordinary taxes, 
and 4d. for the special tax of £450 to pay town debts, 
which latter was "To be Collected by the firft Day of 
February Next; or Give Notes Upon Intereft with Good 
Security to the Town Trefi Upon Demand ". In September, 
1788, the town chose four collectors, who were to have 7d. 
in the £, but the next year 8d. was the compensation, and 
in 1794 Jacob Parker was elected the first collector of the 
whole town, with Robert Fuller and Enoch Parker as his 
sureties, and was to have 4|d. in the £. The custom of 
having two collectors was soon resumed, although the per- 
centage was not always the same in the East as in the West. 

In 1844 John W. Slack offered to collect for .0095 pro- 
vided the highway taxes were included, otherwise he wanted 
.0145. 

In 1850 the collection of the taxes was bid off for one 
per cent, an exceptionally low rate for that time, but later 
two per cent was paid, and in 1876 there was a fixed salary 
of $600. In 1905 the collector received one per cent, which 
amounted to about $1000 per annum. In the last century 
there were many years when no commission was allowed 
on taxes collected more than twelve months after the date 
of the warrant committing them to the collector. 

The votes of the town defining the duties of the collectors 
have varied greatly at different periods. In 1828 Deacon 
Lyon, who was both treasurer and collector, was authorized 
to charge delinquent taxpayers twenty cents for a summons 
(the same amount is demanded in 191 1), and was to pay over 
the taxes to himself as treasurer as follows: "all poll taxes, 
and one third of all other Taxes to be paid by the first day 
of September next, one third to be paid by the first day of 
December next, and the other third part by the first day 
of March A.D. 1829. and the Said Treasurer shall meet 
for the accommodation of the town at the house of Solomon 



524 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Flagg at the house of Nathan White J??', at the house of 
Davis C. Mills and at the house of John Tolman, at Such 
time as he Shall appoint, giving Seasonable Notices ". The 
treasurer was to be "decently Compensated ", according 
to the judgment of the selectmen. It will, perhaps, be 
noticed that all of the places mentioned in the foregoing 
vote were taverns, but a few years later the rise of the 
temperance sentiment was probably responsible for a 
change to the stores. In 1850 the collector was required 
to sit in five buildings, including the almshouse, besides his 
own house, and he was to be in session at each place from 
8 A.M. to 6 P.M. on the designated day or days. 

In 1836 the collector was directed to pay to the treasurer 
$600, exclusive of highway taxes, on or before October i, 
one half of the balance and the highway taxes on or before 
January i, and the remainder on or before April i, under 
penalty of no commission on arrearages. Nathan Mcintosh 
was then collector at 3|%. A discount was allowed the 
collector for prompt payments, and in 185 1 it was 4%. 
For years two thirds of the amount of the polls and personal 
taxes were due from the collector within three days of the 
expiration of thirty days from the date of the assessors' 
warrant, and the balance within the second thirty 
days. 

In 1840 one half of the real estate taxes were required of 
the collector on or before December i, and the balance not 
later than March i, but subsequently one half of these 
taxes were due from him either on the last Monday in 
November, or within ten days ^ of the day when the taxes 
were due from the taxpayers, according to the vote of the 
particular year, and one half of the balance was to be paid 
to the treasurer on or before January i, and the rest on or 
before March i. From the first payment of the real estate 
taxes it was the duty of the collector to reserve enough to 
pay the State tax, and this custom was unchanged to 1882, 

* In 185s it was twenty days. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 525 

inclusive. In 1889 he paid the County tax for the last time 
in Needham. 

Monthly payments by the collector date from 1875, and 
he receives his warrant as late as September, although the 
writer to 1900 issued it in August, if the collector had then 
qualified. An annual vote of some length attempts to de- 
fine the duties of the tax collector, and varies slightly in 
different years. 

From 1884 to 1888 the town had a controversy with a 
then recently retired collector as to his right, following a 
custom, to retain the interest received by him from dila- 
tory taxpayers, and in the latter year the Supreme Judicial 
Court decided in his favor, and the town had to content 
itself with abolishing the custom. This interesting case 
illustrated the hard conditions then imposed upon the tax 
collector, who had to pay the town whether he was able to 
collect or not, and was subject to penalties for delays. 
There have been instances where collectors have lost twice 
their compensation. 

Prior to 1850 the same man rarely served for more than 
two consecutive years as tax collector; the later collectors 
have been as follows: — 

George Emerson Eaton 1850, '52, Josiah Howe Carter 
1853 (served in 1849), George Jennings 1854-64 (eleven 
years), Silas Gustavus Williams 1865-8 (four years). Dexter 
Kingsbury 1869-80 (twelve years), Charles WlUard Morton 
1 88 1-4 (four years), Charles Thorpe 1885-May 2, 1892, died 
in office, Howard Allen Grossman May 31, 1892-1903 (twelve 
years), John Lincoln Twigg 1904- . 

DUTIES OF THE TAXPAYERS 

In 1838 the polls and personal property taxes were due 
from the taxpayers on or before the first Monday in July, 
and the real estate taxes on or before the first Monday m 
November, and these continued the dates for twenty years, 
with some extensions of time. In 1854 polls and personal 



526 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

property taxes were to be paid on or before the first Monday 
in August, and in 1856 the time when real estate taxes were 
due was extended to the last Monday In November. 

Later it became impracticable for the assessors to Issue 
their warrant before July i, and the poll and personal taxes 
were made due within thirty days of the date of the as- 
sessors' warrant. In 1881 polls were payable on demand, 
and in 1882 personal taxes also. 

For some years prior to 1833 the discount allowed for 
the prompt payment of taxes was 3%, but that year it was 
raised to 4%, and later to 6%, which continued to 1881, 
when discounts to either the taxpayer or the collector were 
abolished. In 1857 an appropriation of $1000 sufficed for the 
discount, the cost of collection, and the abatement of taxes, 
but subsequently a comparatively large sum was required. 

ABATEMENT OF TAXES 

Abatements were granted by popular vote in town meet- 
ing until after the Revolution, and as late as 1838 the town 
exercised this right directly on occasion, and since indirectly, 
articles asking for abatements appearing from time to 
time in town warrants. In 1786 and 1787 the town chose 
a committee of four "to confult with the Select men Upon 
y^ Abatement of Taxes". A few items will illustrate the 
character of the early abatements: On March 10, 1745/6, 
the town was asked to abate Ezekiel Richardson's rates 
"AfTefTed upon his Son Peters head lafi: year and it Pafii'd 
in the Affirmative". In May, 1752, the rate "that was 
Set upon John CoflFrons Head" was abated. On May 24, 
1759, abatement was granted "thofe men that Profifs 
themselves Baptis and belong to mr Boundes Church". 
This vote had reference to the minister's rates for 1758, but 
it was reconsidered, although several prominent citizens 
were excused from paying that particular tax, including 
the two ex-deacons, Timothy and Eleazer KIngsbery, the 
latter an "Anabaptist". Presumably all of these petitioners 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 527 

for abatements had ceased to be of Mr. Townsend's flock. 
In 175 1/2 John Mills was abated 9s., gd. for a "mifcaft 
in the Province Rate Committed to him to Collect when 
he was Conftable", and in 1760 Constable William Smith 
£5, IIS., 7d. because the rates committed to him "were 
made to Small". In 1760 Ebenezer Newell had an abate- 
ment "as he was Rated for a hors in the year 1758". 

In 1768 Thomas Broad had an abatement as he was also 
assessed in Natick, and had paid there. In 1779 the select- 
men gave Abiel Turner an abatement of £2, 13s. "what he 
was Taxed for his head in the war tax in Needham in the 
Year 1777", and during the Revolution the taxes of some of 
the soldiers were abated, as well as fines refunded that had 
been collected for neglect of militia duties. In 1782 Moses 
Cummings was abated 6s., 9d. "of what he was Taxed in 
y« Beef and War Tax, for his Son Aarons Poll" in 1781. 
In 1784 Isaac Underwood asked the town for an abate- 
ment, but was answered that he had better give his note 
to Constable John Mcintosh for the 1783 taxes. In 1785 
the poll tax for two years of Joseph Cunningham was abated 
in town meeting, the tax for 1785 being 9s., 6d. On October 
19, 1786, Ephraim Jackson's taxes for 1785 were abated 
because his house had been burned. 

Our tax and valuation lists are missing from 1733 to 1779, 
and the somewhat voluminous records of abatements have 
value as they contain the names of men who were in the 
town but a short time, and of whom in some instances there 
is no other trace in our town records. 

MISCELLANEOUS TAX ITEMS 

On October 14, 1746, the town declined to accept the 
receipts given to John Alden and Caleb Kingsbery, the con- 
stables, who had paid over the "Minifters Rate" without 
a warrant from the assessors. 

On July 12, 1753, the town voted to pay Jonathan Parker, 
the town treasurer, 13s., 4d. "for his trouble for Getting 



528 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In the Towns Money from the Conftables in Year 1747 and 
in the Year 1748". 

In May, 1755, the town voted not to make any rates 
that year for the poor, schools or town charges, if the notes 
that Mr. Bowdoin gave could be availed of "Seafonable", 
and three years later these notes were relied upon to meet 
similar expenses. 

Article 10 of the warrant for March 12, 1792, was to see 
if the assessors should require an oath from "inhabitants" 
making returns of property to them, but action was post- 
poned, and nothing came of it. 

In 1764 and 1765 £66, 13s., 4d. were assessed each year 
for Mr. West's salary, and in 1770 the assessors' warrant was 
for £73, 6s., 8d. for the minister, and £119 for schools, poor 
and town charges. In November, 1739, the assessors had 
been directed to assess nine shillings on each poll in the 
minister's rate. 

THE PROVINCE TAX 

On July, 1712, the selectmen of Dedham and those of 
Needham agreed that the latter town should pay £59 of 
the £270 assessed upon Dedham on account of the Prov- 
ince tax, and £7, 7s., 6d. of the County tax. The first 
Province tax assessed directly on Needham was that of 
1717, and amounted to £31, 7s., 11 d., and from that year 
to 1744 this tax varied from £12, 17s., 2d. in 1719 to £246, 
los. in 1728, including the representatives' pay, which later 
ranged from £8, os., 6d. to £41, 17s., depending largely, as 
did all taxes, upon the value of the currency. The average 
Province tax paid by Needham was about £86 until after 
1744, when it was approximately £179, and so continued 
to 1774, this period including the conquest of Canada. In 
September, 1755, the special levy on account of the Crown 
Point Expedition cost Needham £66, 9s., and at the close 
of the war In 1760 no less than £374, 2s., 6d. was "laid" 
upon Needham by the General Court. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 529 

In 1775 the town paid a "Colony Tax" of £151, 4s., 6d., 
but on March 23, 1775, voted "That the Collectors of the 
Province Taxes: That have Not Paid in their Money to 
the Hon= Harrifon Gray EfqE Should pay in the Province 
Tax they have Collected or have Yet to Collect to Henry 
Gardner EfqE of Stow". This vote is referred to in the 
chapter relating to the American Revolution. The first 
State tax was in 1776, and Needham's share was £357, 
19s., 6d., and from August, 1777 to May, 1780, the General 
Court apportioned to this town State taxes of the nominal 
amount of £76,402, 4s., id., 2f., a huge sum, but most of 
it payable in paper money so badly depreciated that at one 
time £2 were equal to only 6d. in hard money. Our State 
tax was £1489, IIS., 5d. in 1780, reduced by bounty credits 
to £779, 15s., 8d. 

From 178 1 to 1785 the State tax averaged £825, los., 
Iid., and in 1787 it was £194, 2s., 5d. in a total levy of 
£65,000. From 1788 to 1793 the average was £117, and in 
1794, the first year of the County of Norfolk, the State 
tax for Needham was £108, 13s., 4d. In 1795 it was levied 
for the first time in dollars and was $362.22; in 1796 $5.56 
was added on account of the "Beef tax", which was still 
due from the town. The State tax continued to be $362.22 
till 1801 when it was $241.33; in 1810 it was the same as 
in 1801, and had been for some years. In 1820 it was $218.67, 
in 1830 $113.25, and from 1831 to 1843 there was no State 
tax. In 1844 this tax was $162, in 1850 there was none, 
in 1854 it was $435, in i860 $360, in 1870 $4650, in 1880 
$3660, in 1890 $1767.50, in 1900 $1785, in 1905 $5080, and 
in 1910 $8415. 

The regular annual Province tax was voted at the May 
session, but the assessment of the representative's pay was 
for the preceding year. From 1820 inclusive this tax for 
the representative has not appeared as a separate item. 
In 1761 the sum of £21, 9s., S^d. was transferred to 
Needham from Natick on motion of Lieut. Amos Fuller, 



530 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the member from Needham, because of the restoration of 
"The Leg" to Needham, which section included one fourth 
of the polls and estates of Natick. A similar vote was 
passed the next year in answer to a petition of Samuel Morse 
in behalf of the selectmen of Natick. 

On March 12, 1753, the town appointed William Bow- 
doin, their representative, Capt. Robert Fuller, Dea. Josiah 
Newell, Amos Fuller and Jonathan Deming to get an 
abatement of the Province tax assessed upon Needham, and 
in 1764 Deming was paid four shillings for a similar service. 
Applications for abatements of this tax were frequent, and 
there was occasionally such a petition from Needham. 

On July 26, 1779, the town chose Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
Michael Metcalf and Nathaniel Fisher "to join with the 
Other Towns in the County to Petition the General Court 
to See if they can Get Some abatement in there State Tax", 
and the next spring Michael Metcalf, Colonel Mcintosh 
and Nathaniel Fisher were to assist Representative Kings- 
bery "to Git Some abatement of our State Tax". 

The County tax assessed in Needham has been: — 

1810 $122.64, 1820 $196.06, 1830 $361.64, 1840 $274.69, 
1850 $655.18, i860 $1471.52, 1870 $2049.85, 1880 $2818.09, 
1881 $1196.95, 1885 $1076.38, 1890 $1359.24, 1900 $2921.88, 
1905 $4091.63, 1 9 10 $4246.63. 

CENSUS AND STATISTICS 

Under date of January 28, 1777, the five selectmen of 
Needham, duly sworn by Josiah Newell, Justice of the Peace, 
reported to the General Court that there were in town 287 
white males over sixteen years of age, 6 negroes and i 
mulatto; also 4 refugees, viz., Capt. David Phelps and 
Thomas Neal of Boston, Walter Logan, Esq., of Roxbury 
and James Miller of Charlestown: the latter became a resi- 
dent. Archives, Vol. 166, p. 114. 

A return made to the General Court of the valuation of 
Needham for 1779 showed 284 polls, 338 houses, i960 acres 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 531 

of mowing and tillage, 869 of meadow, 2270 of pasture, 8 
mills, 198 horses, 244 oxen, 554 cows, 298 steers, i486 sheep 
and goats, 361 swine, £4656 in money, £1161 debts due not 
on interest, 92 ounces of plate, 12 carriages, £60 taxable in- 
come. Total valuation £54,425, 15s., 4d. Archives, Vol. 
161, p. 205. 

A more elaborate return was made in 1781, Archives, Vol. 
161, p. 337, and again in 1786, with a later revision. Archives, 
Vols, 162 and 163, pp. 215 and 12. From the valuation of 
1768 it appeared that there were 249 rateable polls, 2 not 
rateable and supported by the town, 25 not rateable, but 
not supported by the town, 140 dwelling houses, 10 shops 
separate from or adjoining other buildings, 118 barns, 7 
grist, saw, fulling or slitting mills, 34 other buildings of the 
value of £5 and upward, 695 acres of tillage land, 803I of 
English mowing and upland meadow, 861^ of fresh meadow, 
2036I of pasture, 4842^ of woodland and other unim- 
proved land, 1294 of unimprovable, waste land, 161 horses 
and mares three years old or upward, 10 two-year-old colts, 
10 one-year-olds, 212 oxen three years old or upward, 65 
neat cattle three years old, 79 two-year-olds, 53 one-year- 
olds, 506 cows four years old and upward, 315 sheep and 
goats six months old and upward, 235 swine six months old, 
etc., 1017 barrels of "Cyder", £1670 "Debts due to any 
person on interest or not on interest except Gov* Securities 
and Continental Loan Office Certificates", plate 90 ounces 
@, 6/8 £30, money on hand £50. 

There is a valuation attached to each item, but the real 
estate tax in 1781 and 1786 was on an income basis. The 
total valuation in 1781 was £3152, 4s., 9d., and in 1786 
£2245, 9s., 2d. In the former year the taxable value of the 
income from real estate was £2677, 4s., 6d., and the 129 
horses were appraised at £6 each, 212 oxen at £7 each, 543 
cows at £4 per head, 603 sheep and goats at 6s. per head, 
and 139 swine at 12s. each. It will be noticed that an ox was 
esteemed of more value than the average horse, although in 



532 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

1779 the horses averaged £7, oxen £5, and cows £3. In 
1 78 1 there were 100 ounces of silver in Needham, valued at 
£33, 6s., 8d. 

Population: — 

171 1 250,1 1720 375,1 1730 550,1 1740 660,1 17^0 800^1 
1765 945, 1776 912, 1790 1 130, 1800 1072, 1810 1097, 1820 
1227, 1830 1418, 1840 1488 (1479 according to the census 
taken by the town assessors), 1850 1944, 1860 2658, 1865 
2793, 1870 3607, 1875 4548, 1880 5252, 1885 2586, 1890 3035, 
1895 35iij 1900 4014, 1905 4284, 1910 5026. 

Assessed valuation: — According to statistics at the State 
House the valuation of Needham for the decade 183 1 to 
1840 was $261,566, 1841 to 1850 $383,056, 1851 $799,789.75. 

The following table shows the valuation at different 
periods : — 

Personal Property Total Polls 

$478,086 $1,874,347 667 

814,571 2,937,422 941 

1,033,370 4,748,184 1268 

974,362 4,359,267 1 197 

223,462 1,786,319 654 

246,123 2,277,354 882 

280,140 3,444,424 1 136 

983,766 6,123,391 1388 

As only the taxable values, and not the market values, 
of the Massachusetts Bank and Corporation Stocks, owned 
in Needham, are accessible, it is useless to attempt to in- 
clude them in the town's valuation, and they are omitted. 

The value of the town property at different periods has 
been, using round numbers, as follows: 1866 $23,000, 1870 
$65,000, 1880 $125,000, 1881 $42,000, 1885 $52,000, 1890 
$70,000, 1905 $500,000. 

In 1870 there were 15,009 acres of land in town, of which 
13,926 were assessed. In 1905 7591 acres were assessed. 

Prior to the Civil War the tax rate was usually below $8 
per $1000, with a very moderate valuation, but during and 

^ Estimated. 





Real Estate 


186s 


$1,396,261 


1870 


2,122,851 


187s 


3,714,814 


1880 


3,384,905 


1881 


1,562,857 


1890 


2,031,231 


1900 


3,164,284 


Z9I0 


5,139,625 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 533 

after the war it was increased more than 50%, and the valu- 
ation was raised correspondingly. The average rate by 
decades has been: — 

1861-70 $12.20, 1871-80 $12.44, 1881-90 $12.68, 1891- 
1900 $15.11, 1901-10 $17.15. 

The exempt property, not including widows' and soldiers' 
exemptions, has been valued as follows: 1880 $712,175, of 
which Wellesley College represented $623,175, and the 
Appleton Temporary Home for Inebriates (East Needham) 
$16,900, 1905 about $80,000, all Church property, except 
about eighteen acres of land owned by the Convalescent 
Home of the Children's Hospital, and valued at about $5500. 
There is also a large amount of town property, which has 
not been recently appraised, and there are the graveyards. 



Appropriations for Highways, Schools, Poor and Town Charges. 




1810 


$600. 


$600. 


$700. 


$400. 






1820 


600. 


790.1 


700. 


500. 






1830 


600. 


690.1 


550. 


600. 






1840 


1,000. 


890.1 


500. 


1,200. 






1850 


1 ,000. 


1,500.1 


750. 


1,600. 






i860 


3,412.54 


2 ,800. 


1,200. 


3,700.2 


Total 


$11,112.54 


1870 


10,000. 


10,000. 


2,500. 






33,850. 


1880 


10,464.21 


16,884.7s 


4,000. 






41,580.58 


1882 


3,632.14 


8,682.06 


2,295.84 






23,641.68 


1890 


6,419.28 


1 1 ,600. 


2,700. 






29,994.28 


1900 


7,500. 


17,600. 


3,400. 






47,106. 


1 90s 


11,421. 


23,325- 


3,300. 






68,028.50 


1910 


14,950. 


34,200 3 


4,000. 






98,656.28^ 



In estimating the amount expended for schools in years 
past it should not be forgotten that in addition to the ap- 
propriations given in the tables the town received from the 
State School Fund $82.34 in 1850, $105.16 in i860, $288.67 

1 Included $90 interest on notes given for wood sold on the School Land in 
Dover. 

2 Included $1200 for discount on taxes. 

3 To this sum should be added the income of the Dwight School Fund, $210 
per annum, and the tuition paid by out-of-town pupils, which in 1910 amounted 
to $700.75. 

* Fixed charges and maturing bonds amounting to many thousand dollars are 
not included. 



534 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

in 1870, $18944 in 1880, $202.97 in 1882, and $169.73 in 
1890. Before 1900 the town had ceased to share in this 
form of State aid. Until the establishment of the Free 
Public Library in 1889 the money from the dog licenses was 
voted to the schools, and amounted to $161 in i860, $359.21 
in 1870, $384.75 in 1880, $208.40 in 1882, and $306.17 in 
1885. This represented the balance of the dog taxes of the 
preceding year, which was returned by the County treasurer 
to the town after deducting its share of the expense caused 
by dogs that killed animals and fowls, or did other damage for 
which the County paid. 

In 1870 the town expended $28,397.73 for schools, in- 
cluding $17,662 for new school-houses, and of the latter 
$6850 was in the tax levy, and forms a part of the $33,850 
voted that year. The Highway appropriations, as given in 
these tables, include ordinary bridge repairs, the removal of 
snow, and beginning with 1880 one half of the cost of side- 
walks, the abutters paying the other half. In addition to 
the appropriations for highways there was in 1900 the sum 
of $2230.04 received from the Street Railways, and this is 
an annual source of revenue to the town. In 1905 there were 
available for the highways, including the removal of snow, 
and work on sidewalks, $12,693.63. The Massachusetts 
Bank and Corporation taxes yield the town $7000 or $8000 
per year since 1900, and from 1870 have been important 
items. The Corporation tax was first received by the town 
in 1866, and netted $1171.23. The Bank tax, as a source 
of town income, dates from 1871, and then amounted to 
$1793.93, the Corporation tax yielding the town $3032.60 
that year. The appropriations were not made in dollars 
until 1798; those of 1800 were as follows: Highways $500, 
Schools $500, Poor $500, Town Charges $400. 

The four principal appropriations given in the foregoing 
tables do not equal the amounts annually paid out by the 
town treasurer; for example, in 1850 he paid $5866.81, and 
the committee to reckon with him in the spring of 185 1 re- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 535 

ported that the town owed him $875.64. Often a consid- 
erable outlay for a school-house, or other improvement, 
was not paid in one year, and after the Civil War money 
was voted to reduce the war debt. 

Dwellings Horses Neat Cattle Sheep Swine 



1865 


48s 


328 


442 


14 




1870 


608 


396 


472 


69 




1880 


949 


545 


619 






I88I 


540 


289 


348 






1890 


637 


396 


584 




1180 


1900 


880 


478 


899 


26 


198 


1905 


947 


415 


736 


28 


354 


I9IO 


1029 


364 


407 


22 


301 



No neat cattle under twelve months old, or sheep or 
swine under six months are assessed, or reported by the as- 
sessors. As only the larger flocks of poultry are assessed the 
figures as to fowls are of but little value, and the custom of 
counting each apartment, or suite of rooms, as a separate 
dwelling-house swells the number out of proportion to the 
inhabitants. The assessors say that this method of counting 
dwellings has been abandoned, but that it appears in earlier 
statistics. In 1872 only four sheep were assessed, and all 
of them belonged to George Kuhn Clarke, who in 1875 was 
the owner of the three sheep then on the list. 



PRICES OF COMMODITIES 



S. d. 



1761 6| yards of "Cotton and Lining Cloath 

for Cloathing for and Making 

up the of the Same" 10, 10. 

Samuel Daggett charge for shoeing a " pair 

of oxen" 8, 8. 

1764 Shoes for child 4. 

Wool per pound i, 22. 

1 77 1 Cloth for coat for a poor man 10. 

1773 "for a pair of Breeches he found", refer- 
ring to Amos Fuller 2, 8. 



536 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Shirt 
Wool per pound 
1774 Corn per bushel 



s. d. 

I, 4. 

I, 4. 

3. 



WAR prices: — 



1778 Indian corn per bushel 






13. 


same 






12. 


Tow Cloth per yard 






3. 


Wood per cord 




I, 


12. 


same 




3, 


12. 


Shoes for the Continental Army per pair 




12. 


Soldiers' Shirts 19 yards of ' 


lining Cloth" 


9, 


10. 


Shoes per pair 




2, 


2. 


Shirts for the soldiers, each 




2. 




Making three shirts 






15- 


Shoes per pair ^ 




I, 


16. 


Socks per pair 




h 


4- 


same 






16. 


Shirt for Josiah Lyon, a Continental soldier 


3, 


16. 


Shift for poor woman 




I, 


10. 


Cord of wood 




IS- 




One and one half quires of 


paper 


5> 


8. 


1779 "Blankitts" for the army. 


each 


7, 


10. 



178 1 Josiah Newell "for the Use of his Blan- 

kett about Two Years " 
Pig, silver 

1782 Lieut. William Fuller money paid "for 

Shoeing Horfes Purchafed by y® Town 
for Publick Service" 



30- 



10, 



15- 



* Jonathan Huntting made twelve pairs of shoes for the soldiers in the spring 
of 1778, for which he had an order the following year for £21, 12s., with the addi- 
tion of eighteen shillings for interest on his claim, which had waited nine months. 
The difference between the purchasing power of hard money and the currency of 
the war period is illustrated by this table, the reasonable figures representing the 
hard money prices. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 537 

£ s. d. 

"going to Bofton One Day Refpecting 
holding James Farris as a Needham 
Man in a late Campaign". 6. 

"Gun for Town bought of Mr Oliver 
Gay" 1775 I, 4. 

PRICES AFTER THE WAR: 

1783 Winding sheet for poor woman 4. 

One half quire of paper for rates i. 

1787 Wood, delivered, per cord 12, 6. 

1789 Shoes per pair 7, 6. 

Indian corn per bushel 4. 

Mutton, per pound, charged the town by 

Moses Man, a butcher i. 

1791 Wood, for school-house, per cord 12. 

Meal per bushel 4. 

1794 Wood, for poor, per cord 15. 

179s '96 Wood, for poor, per cord ^3-33 

Two barrels of cider for a poor man at $2.50 5. 

1798 Meal per bushel I. 

1801 Standing wood per cord 3. 

Indian Cotton per yard .25 

1808 Israel Whitney, the shoemaker, charged 

the town for a pair of shoes for a man 2. 

1814 Oak, or pine wood, delivered at school- 
houses, per cord 4.50 
1829 "winter gown" for a poor woman 3. 



The most ancient tavern in Needham was that of Ben- 
jamin Mills, whose license was dated July 2, 1705, and whose 
house near the Lower Falls is mentioned by Judge Samuel 
Sewall in his famous diary as a place where the Royal 
Governors, and other dignitaries, were wont to refresh 
themselves when journeying to the inland towns of the 
Province. 

On May 17, 1732, the town voted down propositions "to 
have three Taverns fet up in the Town this year", or to 
have two taverns, or even one. On October 28, 1755, a 
Resolve of the General Court became law, which authorized 
the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for Suffolk 
County to license Samuel Richards, of Needham, "Inn- 
holder", who had failed through sickness to renew his 
license at the proper time. On May 11, 1785, it was "the 
mind of the Town that the Selectmen Should Put the Law 
in Execution Refpecting thofe Perfons that Spend their 
time and Intreft Unnecefarily at Taverns, or elfewhere", 
and a similar vote was passed in 1791. Moses Mann was 
licensed to sell "foreign distilled Spirits at his Shop" for 
one year by "Th Gorham Supervifor of the Revenue for 
the District of Maffachufetts", countersigned by "Tho. 
Clarke Collector of the Revenue for the eighth Divifion of 
the third Survey, in the Diftrict of Maffachusetts" October 
28, 1795. 

Morse's Tavern, then in the limits of Natick, was much 
patronized before the Revolution, as was Bullard's, which 
latter was on Washington Street where is now the eastern 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 539 

lodge of Wellesley College. Ensign Ephraim Bullard, the 
landlord of the tavern, died in 1779, and several of the 
Bullards appear to have been successful innkeepers. Major 
Moses Bullard, a brother of this Ephraim, removed to Boston, 
and kept the noted Sun Tavern there from 1789 to 1794. 

Flagg's Tavern is still standing at the corner of Washington 
and Church Streets in Wellesley, and was kept a century 
ago by Solomon Flagg, Senior. He was father of our late 
town clerk, and came to Needham from Boston in 1805. 

Colonel Mcintosh entertained many people at his house 
on what was later Great Plain Avenue, and his son, Major 
Ebenezer, had the M*=Intosh Tavern, on or near the site of 
the house of Charles Kingsbury Cutter, at the corner of 
Great Plain and Central Avenues, the latter road not then 
existing. Noyes Street was the old road. 

The Major was succeeded by his son Francis, and he by 
Davis C. Mills, who had the tavern one year. Nathan 
Mcintosh, son of the Major, followed Mills. Isaac Myrick 
was the last to keep a tavern on this spot, and after the 
building had been used for some years as a store by Rufus 
Mills and others it was burned in February, 1844. The 
tavern hall was a favorite place for dances, and Mr. M'=Far- 
land taught dancing there, and fiddled for the dancers. 
Mr. Miller, who drove the stage that ran through Dover, 
succeeded Mr. M'^Farland as the fiddler. 

The Honorable Enos H. Tucker related to the writer 
anecdotes of the dances in this tavern. One winter, just 
before a party, the floor was washed and ice formed on it, 
with the result that while dancing a cotillion Abby Daniell 
slipped and fell. Mr. Tucker said that in the cotillion there 
were often two rows of young people extending the entire 
length of the hall. After the tavern was burned Ezra Fuller, 
Jr., built a house and store on the site, and he and his 
brother-in-law, Timothy Newell Smith, had a general store 
there. A part of this later building is now Mr. Cutter's 
house, but much changed, and the ell, the northern portion. 



540 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

was removed by Matthias Mills many years ago, and is 
now the residence of the Pierce family on Central Avenue, 
opposite the Gay farm. 

Aaron Smith, Jr., known as "Hawk Aaron", removed 
to Plainfield, Connecticut, in 1799, but previously had kept 
tavern in his house on South Street, opposite High Rock 
Street; the house had been for many years the home of 
his uncle, Lieut. Aaron Smith. Isaac Felton had a hostelry 
near Smith's, on the north side of South Street, near Web- 
ster Street. Many people recall the old Felton house, but 
few now remember Isaac Felton, who died in 1842, aged 
sixty-three years. 

Hoogs's Tavern, later known as Rice's Block, stood next to 
the railroad track at the Lower Falls, and was burned early 
in the morning of February 27, 1905. George W. Hoogs, 
a native of Newton, kept a tavern there for many years 
prior to 1850, and his family lived in what was then known 
as the "old part". Mr. Hoogs had a store and a bar in the 
southern portion, and in the hall above it Mr. M'=Farland 
had a dancing school at times. The early tax collectors 
usually received taxes at Hoogs's Tavern one day each 
autumn. 

The stage coaches regularly stopped at Wales's Tavern 
on the Newton side. This tavern had a second story that 
was larger than either the first or third, but was not an 
ancient building, and was burned on June 8, 1868. It 
stood on the corner of Washington and Wales Streets, and 
it was here that Nathaniel Prentiss Banks gave dancing 
lessons, including among his pupils some young people 
from Needham. The Metropolitan Park Commission 
removed a much older tavern on Wales Street in Newton. 
The moment one is half-way across the bridge formerly 
known as the Mills Bridge, going north. Walnut Street 
becomes Wales Street; the latter is a very short street. 

Sargent's Tavern was at the junction of Washington Street 
and the Turnpike in Wellesley Hills, and was built about 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 541 

1 8 10. It was long owned by William MInot of Boston, who 
leased it to successive tavern-keepers. From 1846 to 1849 
a hotel was taxed to Daniel Stone, and apparently it was 
the same that Mr. MInot had owned, as his name then dis- 
appeared from our tax lists. In later times the property 
was owned by John W. Shaw, who leased it. In 1834 this 
tavern was kept by John W. Slack, when the coming of the 
railroad influenced him to give it up. Among his successors 
have been Moses Crafts and Mr. Blanchard. Col. Lemuel 
Shepard, who came from Dedham, was a well-known land- 
lord of this hostelry, and it long bore his name. Mr. 
M'^Bride was the tavern-keeper at one time, and during the 
Civil War Mrs. Tenney was the landlady. Dr. Newhall 
followed her, and is said to have built the large barn. In 
1 88 1 Elisha Livermore was the proprietor of the Elmwood 
Park Hotel, as the house was then called, and in 1908 
Capt. Oliver C. Livermore kept it. In 1908 the estate was 
sold and was made a public park. The citizens of Welles- 
ley raised $10,000 by subscription for this object, and the 
town appropriated $10,000. Many meetings and social 
gatherings have been held in this house, which has been 
taken away, and in the thirties Meridian Lodge of Masons 
met there. 

POST-OFFICES 

The first post-office in Needham was established on May 
17, 1826, and that day Rufus Mills was appointed post- 
master, and served to 1839. For some years he had the 
post-office in his house, now the home of the writer, but 
later removed it to Daniel Kingsbury's store, which is the 
dwelling-house now owned by Mrs. Marianna Whitney 
on Central Avenue, near what is popularly known as Dog 
Corner. Mr. Kingsbury, and later George E. Eaton, kept 
store there, and Mr. Eaton lived in the house. It was the 
custom of the tax collectors to sit a few hours each year at 
the different stores, taverns, and at the almshouse, and for 



542 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

some years in the forties taxes were received at this store. 
When Mr. Mills first became postmaster the mail was 
brought once a week from the Upper Falls by Lemuel Mills, 
Jr., who went after it on horseback, but this was changed 
to twice a week, and later to three times.^ 

Israel Whitney succeeded Rufus Mills, and for some years 
had the office in his house, when he removed it to the newly 
erected Nehoiden Block. Mr. Whitney's methods were 
informal, and people helped themselves as they saw fit 
to the mail, which he spread on a table. Elbridge Smith 
of Evanston, 111., who was born in Needham, wrote of Mr. 
Whitney in 1902: "the old Postmaster, Israel Whitney, who 
was Justice of the Peace and cobbled our shoes, would bring 
the mail, from his house close by, down to the school yard 
in his leather apron, with his specks on the end of his nose, 
which was pretty long, and the children would collect 
around him; he would then distribute the mail to the 
children, who in turn would take it where it belonged when 
they went home". In 1908 the old shoemaker's shop 
of Israel Whitney, with a slide in the door through which 
he once passed out the mail, was detached from the house, 
which was for many years the home of Bill Burrill, and 
moved back to form part of a shed or henhouse. 

The second post-office in town was the one established 
in West Needham, with Charles Noyes, son of the Rev. 
Thomas Noyes, as its first postmaster. He was an optician, 
and had the office in his shop, where as early as 1830 the 
mail was brought twice a week by the "Daily Line" of 

* In November, 1909, Mr. Edward Mills, a son of Rufus Mills, loaned the 
present postmaster, Albert E. Brownville, a little trunk in which he said his father 
kept the letters received. The trunk was on exhibition in the window of the post- 
ofHce for some time, with a suitable inscription, but the stand which once accom- 
panied it could not be found, although known to have been in the possession of 
one of the Mcintosh families. This trunk is only seven and three eighths inches by 
four and one fourth inches on the inside, and two and seven sixteenths inches deep, 
and was kept by Mr. Mills on the mantelpiece. Mr. Sumner B. Mills has an old 
trunk with various compartments which is said to have been used by either the 
first or second postmaster. It is twice as large as the one described; both were in 
the loan exhibit in September, 1911. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 543 

stages, which were advertised to leave Wildes's, 11 Elm 
Street, Boston, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 
7 A.M., and other days at 11 A.M. These stages ran 
to Uxbridge via Newton, West Newton and Natick. Mr. 
Noyes was succeeded by William Flagg, who held the posi- 
tion twenty-five years. 

The post-office at Charles River Village was established 
on January 6, 1851, and Josiah Newell was its first post- 
master. 

The post-office at Grantville dates from November, 
1851, when the Rev. William H. Adams was appointed 
postmaster, and the office located in his house. Mr. Adams 
had a private school in Grantville 1846-52, and the school 
was in the house known as the Stanwood house, which then 
stood on the east side of Washington Street, having been 
moved from its original site, which was west of the present 
railroad station. This removal was caused by the building 
of the railroad. This migratory house was again moved, 
this time to Maple Place, and within a few years it has been 
transferred to the Abbott Road, where it was occupied for 
some years in the nineties by Miss Sarah Elizabeth Laugh- 
ton, A.M., who had a boarding-school and day-school for 
girls there. 

The post-office at Highlandvllle, now Needham Heights, 
was established on December 19, 1871, and Jonathan Avery 
was its first postmaster. 

Although no attempt is made to give lists of the post- 
masters, something should be said about the third postmaster 
at Highlandvllle, John James Whetton, who was one of 
the best citizens of the town, but whose refusal to allow his 
name to be used for town office results in his not occupying 
the place in this history that he otherwise would. He was 
born in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on October 
21, 1844, and in his younger days followed the sea, having 
some interesting experiences, including that of being pur- 
sued by the famous Alabama, when he was one of the crew 



544 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

of the Great Britain. He came to Needham In 1870, and 
engaged in the grocery business; a few years later he pur- 
chased the store of Mark Lee at HlghlandvUle, and was a 
successful merchant, dealing chiefly in groceries. He also 
represented the Cunard, Dominion and Allan steamship 
lines. In 1890 Mr. Whetton succeeded Mark Lee as post- 
master, and continued in office the rest of his life, contribut- 
ing by his efficiency to raising the post-ofRce to a higher 
class. He died suddenly at the sea shore on September 6, 
1903, and his funeral on the 8th was one of the largest that 
has taken place in town for many years. A full-rigged 
ship Is appropriately chiselled upon his monument. 

Rural delivery was Introduced Into Needham on June 
4, 1900, in connection with the post-office at Wellesley, and 
then, as now, included a section in the southwestern part 
of the town. Chester A. BIgelow has been the carrier from 
the beginning, and has never missed a trip. Four months 
after the establishment of this route another man, starting 
from the post-office at Wellesley Hills, began to deliver 
mail in the northwestern part of Needham, and with some 
changes this delivery has continued to the present time. 

On September i, 1902, a delivery connected with the 
Needham office was first made, and at the end of one year, 
George Lyman Kingsbury, the delivery agent, had handled 
seventy-six thousand pieces of mail, two thirds of which 
were delivered to individuals. 

STAGES] 

In 1808 a stage left Daggett's, In Market Square, Boston, 
for Newton and Needham on Mondays, Wednesdays, 
Thursdays and Saturdays at 4 P.M. 

On May 3, 1830, the town dismissed article 3, which was 
"to see what measure the town will take with regard to the 
recovery of the one hundred and sixty dollars In money 
that the town paid in the year 1829 to John Williams and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 545 

Royal Mflntosh for damage done to their Stage by upsetting 
near the house of Jonathan Gay, Jun in Needham". 

After the Boston and Worcester Railroad was opened 
to Grantville Marshall Newell daily drove a stage from 
East Needham to connect with the trains, and for a time, 
at least, he kept his horses and vehicles in the very ancient 
barn on the Townsend place, which estate is now the home 
of George Kuhn Clarke. This stage was a huge affair 
painted yellow, and the body of it was hung on leather straps 
and at certain seasons of the year, when the roads were at 
their worst, it was marvellously encrusted with mud. The 
late Francis A. M'=Intosh, then a youth, entered the employ 
of Mr. Newell, and within a day or two was told to wash 
the stage early in the morning, that imposing vehicle being 
in great need of such attention. At breakfast Mr. Newell 
asked "Frank" if he had washed the stage, and he said, 
"Yes". "Well, did you get it clean.?" said Mr. Newell. 
"Yes, I guess so, I used four pails of water" was the reply. 
Some people will appreciate the fact that in those days the 
only comfortable way to wash a wagon was to take it to a 
stream or pond, and must sympathize with Frank, who had 
lugged four buckets, or pails, of water. 



W^t tKoUm'g ^oor 



When Needham was incorporated there was one woman 
receiving public aid, and she was the only person "on the 
town" who belonged north of the Charles River. 

She had been assisted since 1694, and contributions were 
collected for her on Sundays. This happy condition did 
not last, and before many years there were a number of 
destitute persons, most of them elderly widows, some of 
whom lived to a great age and were on the town for decades. 
The large majority of Needham's poor have had occasional 
aid only, and the number "put out" or sent to the town 
farm has been comparatively small. A widow taught 
school in town for thirty years, and was an equally long 
time dependent, boarding at either William Eaton's or 
Nathaniel Ware's, the town paying but little until the in- 
firmities of age made her a care rather than a helper. She 
died at Mr. Eaton's in 1800 or 1801, and he was allowed 
$1.50 for going to Milton to notify her daughter of the 
mother's death. Some of the poor lived with the same 
families for years, while others were subject to frequent 
changes. It was not unusual in early times for the town to 
compensate individuals for the care of their nearest relatives, 
and in the last century the selectmen made contracts for 
such maintenance. One item will illustrate: On May 19, 
1748, the town granted a rate of £80 for the poor "forty 
pounds of it to be payd to John parker as a Gift for his Care 
of and providing for his Grandmother some years Last 
past". John did not live to get this money, and four years 
later the selectmen gave his brother, Jacob, as administrator 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 547 

of John, an order for £5, 6s., 8d. "Lawfull money of New= 
England which is Equeuile nt to Forty pounds old tener 
that the Town gave unto y« Said John Parker Deceaft as a 
Gift for taking Care of his Grandmother Some Years". 

The terms on which the entirely dependent poor were 
placed at the auction annually held by the selectmen in 
October or November is illustrated by the following: "The 
Conditions that those persons who are Supported by the 
Town of Needham are to be put out for the term of one 
year from the first day of Nov^ 1800 is as follows Viz* — 
Said persons are to be put to those persons who will keep 
them at the lowest terms. — Those that take them are to 
Support them decently, with food. Clothing &c. and at the 
expiration of said year to remove them to the place where 
they are to be kept the year ensuing as well Clothed as they 
received them (extra Sicknefs to be allowed for) and no 
pay to be allowed to those persons for keeping the poor 
after the end of said year except they take them for another 
year". There were then "put out" four women, three of 
whom, if not all, were old, and one man. The terms ranged 
from 2s., 6d. to 6s., 8d. per week, depending upon whether 
the indigent person was useful about the house or farm. 
Within the recollection of the writer the insane were kept 
in the towns, and the Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated 
that his Grandmother Tucker for years boarded an unfor- 
tunate woman, whom few could manage, receiving from the 
town the then high compensation of $5 per week. In 1744 
Amos Fuller provided for a child for a year for £5. At the 
death of a pauper the personal effects were sold at auction by 
the town, when "sorry" prices were realized, and the de- 
scriptions of the articles were the reverse of attractive. The 
expense for liquor at auctions is referred to in the chapter on 
Temperance, and elsewhere in this book, and as the auction 
of the poor was held in a tavern its proprietor supplied the 
drink and brought in a bill. One of the earlier orders of this 
kind was granted to Ebenezer M<=Intosh in the spring of 



548 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

1793 for five shillings "worth of philip he found when the 
poor of the Town were put out", and is remarkable only 
for the small sum named for that particular occasion, it 
often costing several dollars. There are a great number of 
items in our records relating to supplies for the poor, but 
a few will suffice to illustrate their character: In 1755 and 
1756 a certain man was most destitute, and cost the town 
a considerable sum. Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., procured a 
"Coat and Sheet" for him, and Ebenezer Skinner a "Blan- 
kett and a sheet and a Shirl". Dr. John Allen of Newton 
brought in a bill of £2, i8s., 8d. for "Attendance and Med- 
icine", and Dr. Deming of West Needham one for £2, 
which the town paid, but when he presented another bill 
for £3, los. the town declined to pay it, and the Doctor 
was still urging his claim in 1758. In 1761 Seth Wilson 
boarded a poor woman a year and a half for £7, 8s. In 
1771 Josiah Woodward charged the town six shillings "for 
making a horfe Litter to Remove the wid° ****** and Afsifi:- 
ing their in altho Difapointed". 

There are many orders for "Cotton and Lining Cloath 
for Cloathing", shoes, etc. There are some curious items 
among the orders for the poor: In 1795 Elman Tolman was 
allowed six shillings for "Sugar Chocolate Buiscuit for Molly 
****** in the year 1793", and in the winter of 1795/6 a 
poor man was furnished by the town with two barrels of 
cider at a cost of $2.50 per barrel; presumably the select- 
men considered cider a necessity, or thought they were 
applying the Golden Rule. 

QUESTIONS OF DOMICILE OR SETTLEMENT 

The legal domicile of persons receiving, or asking, aid 
from a town was a fertile source of controversies and litiga- 
tion two centuries ago, as it is to-day, and Needham had 
its share, sometimes involving considerable expense, and 
giving the selectmen an opportunity to see something of 
the world. In 1742 a widow living in Needham, and who 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 549 

had been married there in 1728, petitioned the General 
Court for leave to sell one third of her late husband's real 
estate, which had been set off to her by the Judge of Pro- 
bate, although the deceased had left all of his property to 
Jonathan Townsend and Samuel Smith. She was ordered 
to serve notice on a man who was an heir-at-law of the 
testator. General Court Records, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 380 
and 410. From 1769 to 1771 Needham had a contest with 
Southborough as to the settlement of this woman, who had 
apparently deeded some land to the Town of Needham, 
presumably as part payment for aid. The case was heard 
in the Court at Worcester, and in 1771 Southborough was 
ordered to pay to Needham £19, 9s., 4d., which sum must 
have been largely expended in travelling, as Capt. Eleazer 
Kingsbery, Lieutenant Mackintafh and William Smith, 
the special committee on behalf of Needham, were not the 
only citizens whose presence was required at Worcester. 
Lieutenant Day had investigated the matter at South- 
borough, and "the Lawer in the affair" was paid twelve 
shillings, exactly the amount that Benjamin Mills charged 
for a horse "to Worcefter Laft march". Captain Kingsbery, 
who presumably had oxen only, obtained William Fuller's 
horse in order to attend court. The year 1787 saw a con- 
troversy with Framingham as to the domicile of two fami- 
lies, one of which, consisting of a man, his wife and five 
children, had been assisted by Needham. 

During 1793 and 1794 a similar difficulty required jour- 
neys to Worcester and Boston, and the payment of £1, IQS. 
to "Esq. Ward", the town counsel. In addition to visiting 
other towns to obtain facts it was often necessary to re- 
move poor persons from one town to another. 

As early as 1744 the selectmen occasionally secured a 
bond to protect, or indemnify, the town on account of a 
poor person, or family, within its borders, and for more 
than a century instances will be found in the Acts and Re- 
solves of reimbursement by the State, when it was legally 



550 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

responsible for some one who had been assisted by the 
town. 

The War of the Revolution brought upon the town the 
care of the soldiers, and of those they left at home; more- 
over, the years following the war were not prosperous, and 
Needham had many Inhabitants who received aid between 
1 78 1 and 1800. The writer has before him the long list of 
the poor of our town from its incorporation to the close of 
185 1, and there were very respectable people among them, 
some of whom had themselves been overseers of the poor 
when In their prime. In our cemetery there are at least one 
handsome monument and several gravestones, placed by 
descendants or relatives, above the remains of persons who 
died at the Town Farm. In 1789 Robert Fuller was paid 
for "writing Seven Indentures to bind out poor Children". 
By these indentures girls remained in the control of the 
town until they were eighteen years of age. For many 
years the town had to pay money on account of its citizens 
who were prisoners in the "Goal" at Dedham, or in the 
House of Correction in Boston, especially when the im- 
prisonment was for debt, and the man's release was neces- 
sary to keep his family "off the town". 

From 1803 to 1807 the town had an undesirable family 
occupying George Newell's house, and their foraging was 
expensive, as they did much damage to Philip Floyd and 
others, besides burning Nathaniel BuUard's posts and rails; 
for all of which the town paid. 

THE POOR-FARM 

On May 19, 1773, the town rejected a proposition to ob- 
tain "a work Houfe for the Poor of the Town", and in 1778 
twice declined to have "a Houfe for Such of the poor as 
have no house to live in". Subsequent to 1800 the subject 
was repeatedly before the town, and on April 7, 1828, Moses 
Garfield, Major M'=Intosh, General Rice, Benjamin Slack, 
Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq., EUsha Lyon, Esq., and Capt. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 551 

George Smith were appointed a committee "to see how 
they can purches a farm for a Poor house and report at the 
adjournment of this meeting". Later in the day the town 
voted to buy the Emily Kingsbury farm, then owned by 
John Welles of Boston, and directed Captain Gay, Aaron 
Smith, Esq., and Artemas Newell, Esq., to receive the 
deed from Mr. Welles. Thus fifty-five years after the first 
consideration of the matter, and after several committees 
had reported upon it, a poor-house was obtained, and the 
annual placing out of the poor to the lowest bidder ceased 
in Needham. A committee was named to prescribe rules 
and regulations for the government of the poor-house, and 
supplies were purchased for it, and for the farm, during the 
summer and autumn of 1828; Mrs. Kingsbury was paid 
$170 for carts and farm implements. At the annual meet- 
ing in 1830 a committee was appointed to consider buying 
four acres of land adjoining the poor-farm, and in April 
Artemas Newell, Esq., Amraphel Smith and Aaron Smith 
were to report on the cost of the "paupers" for two years. 
This was the first appearance of the annual committee, 
consisting of three men, appointed to investigate the condi- 
tion of affairs at the almshouse, and the committee reported 
in print from. 1853 to 1858 inclusive. 

In 1830 the town voted to insure its buildings, and Wil- 
liam Flagg as agent obtained a policy on the almshouse for 
which the town paid a premium of $38.38. At the annual 
meeting in 1832 the town voted to buy a bathing tub "for 
the use of the town". It was to be kept at the almshouse, 
and to be under the control of the selectmen, who in January, 
1834, drew an order for $10 to pay for it. In 1830 "Alms- 
house Cells" had been constructed, and iron work was 
purchased for them. The house was damaged by lightning 
in 1833. 

On April 3, 1838, a large committee was chosen to 
consider building a town house, and to estimate the 
cost, and on May 7 the town voted to proceed to build, 



552 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

choosing Jabez Smith, Dexter Ware and Spencer Fuller 
a building committee with instructions to consult with 
the selectmen as to the plan and the location. On No- 
vember 12 the town met in its new hall, and appointed a 
large committee to take down the old house, and to remove 
the outbuildings. The town borrowed $500 to pay for a 
new piggery and other outbuildings, and the masons, 
Charles Wilson and Charles Underwood, as well as some of 
the carpenters, stayed at the house of John Kingsbury, 
whose bill amounted to $167.03. The new barn was built 
in 1857 by Timothy N. Smith, who was paid $1047, and in 
1874 the town hall was much enlarged by Oliver Pickering, 
contractor, at a cost of upward of $9000. The first town 
hall was a part of the almshouse, and can hardly be consid- 
ered a separate building. When it was completed in 1838 
it was placed in the custody of the keeper of the almshouse, 
subject to the authority of the selectmen, and it was voted 
that "it may be occupied for public political, and other 
Civil meetings, that the town provide lamps for the town 
hall, and those that appoint meetings in said hall are to 
furnish oil". A year or two later a charge was made for the 
use of the hall for certain purposes. As late as 1852 there 
were no settees, or clock, in this hall. 

Large committees were chosen from time to time to con- 
sider the management of the poor-farm, and in 1842 there 
was an article in a warrant to see if the town would rent 
it, but the "noes" prevailed. The question of selling the 
town farm was referred to a committee in 1872, who were 
to consider having an asylum instead, but nothing came 
of their deliberations, unless it was the lock-up, which was 
built in 1873 at a cost of about $1000. There had been an 
attempt to establish lock-ups in the basements of some of 
the school-houses, but the town wisely declined to have them. 

The town had early considered buying of Moses Garfield 
some woodland adjoining the town farm, but apparently 
purchased neither peat meadow nor woodland till 1845, when 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 553 

William Pierce was paid upward of $108.41 for four acres 
of peat meadow. Later than 1870 peat was more or less 
used for fuel In Needham, and the peat, cut In long blocks 
and built up In piles or little towers to dry, was a familiar 
sight in the meadows. 

Rates of interest were high, and until 185 1 the town 
annually paid Mr. Welles $200, some years $300, without 
reducing the debt. The "Surplus Revenue" had been relied 
upon to pay for this property, and In 1837 a census was 
taken In order to show what sum the town might claim 
from the Federal Government, but there was much delay 
in getting the money. 

At the division of the town In 1881 the average number 
of regular inmates of the poor-house was about twelve, 
some of whom lived to great age, and each spring their 
familiar forms appeared seated under a favorite tree. When 
a certain man went to the almshouse at the age of seventy- 
two years, he had an opportunity to associate with his 
father, who had been there for a long time. Many people 
remember both father and son, who bore the same name, 
and were the last representatives in Needham of one of 
its oldest families. Since 1881 a few Individuals, entirely 
dependent on the town of Needham, have been boarded at 
this farm, which Is the property of the Town of Wellesley.^ 
In 1899 the question of establishing a poor-farm was dis- 
missed by a town meeting, and the arrangement with 
Wellesley was approved. The average appropriations for 
the poor have been: — 

1782-90 about £62, 1791-1800 $360, 1801-40 $505, 
1841-60 $780, 1861-70 $1890, 1871-80 $3263.75, 1881-90 
$2385, 1891-1900 $3060, 1901-10 $3750. 

The selectmen have been annually elected as overseers 
of the poor the greater part of the time since 171 2. On 
March 11, 1750/1, three overseers were chosen, and took 

* In 1910 the Town Farm was discontinued, and the fine estate leased to the 
Wellesley Country Club. 



554 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

the money oath, which fact was carefully recorded for years, 
and applied to the town officers generally. There does not 
appear to have been any election of overseers of the poor 
from the spring of 1761 to March 9, 1778, when Timothy 
Newell, Samuel Ware and Capt. William Smith were 
chosen. In 1779 they were chosen by "Hand Votes". 
There had been five of these overseers in 1757 and in other 
years. On April 8, 1822, Captain Gay, Artemas Newell, 
Capt. Elisha Lyon, Calvin Gay and William W. Mann were 
elected overseers of the poor, and were the first for many 
years, as distinct from the selectmen. In September they 
were authorized to draw on the town treasurer "for pauper 
Expenses". The separate board was not continued, but 
was revived again in 1845 by the choice of Otis Sawyer, 
Capt. Reuben Ware and Daniel Hurd, who were to serve 
without pay. Mr. Sawyer declined and Alvin Fuller, 2d, 
was elected in his place, but this distinct board was short- 
lived, and no determined effort has been made to restore it. 
From 1 76 1 to 1789, inclusive, with the exception of 1781, 
'82, and possibly other years, three wardens were chosen, 
whose duty it was to care for the poor.^ 

The title of Warden, which the managers or keepers of 
the poor-farm bore in later times, was probably derived 
from these now forgotten wardens of an earlier period. 

The Wardens of the Town Farm have been: — Israel 
Whitney July, 1828-July, 1833, Joseph Newell July, 1833- 
April, 1834, Daniel Ware April, 1834-April, 1838, John 
Kingsbury April, 1838-April, 1841, and April, 1845-April, 
1846, Jacob Hardon April, 1841-September 14, 1841, Alvin 
Fuller, 2d, September, 1841-April, 1845, James Smith 
April, 1846-April, 1851, E. G. Byington April, 1851-1852, 
Ezekiel Peabody April, 1852-April, 1859, and March, 1873 
to the division of the town. Dexter Kingsbury April, 1859- 

* In 1769 Capt. Caleb Kingsbery had an order for seven shillings ''that you 
Paid at Bofton to Git a Sitation for Lii Jonathan Day he not being willing to take 
the Oath of a Warden". 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 555 

March, 1867, Benjamin Joy March, 1867-March, 1871, 
Daniel A. Warner March, 1871-March, 1872, Edward L. 
Ward March, 1872-March, 1873. 

The wife of the warden was quite as important as he was, 
and the salary, which from 1828 to 185 1 was $50 per quarter, 
was recorded as paid to "Israel Whitney and Wife", and 
invariably the efficiency of the wife was considered. For 
some years from 1840 a warden was advertised for when one 
was wanted. 

FRENCH NEUTRALS 

The dark chapter in New England history that tells the 
story of the forcible expulsion from their homes of the 
inoffensive French farmers, and their distribution in the 
British provinces, is reflected in the annals of Needham. The 
following is quoted from Vol. III., p. 1061 of the Province 
Laws: — "April 25, 1757. A Petition of Amos Fuller of 
Needham — Setting forth that there are Twelve of the 
French Inhabitants of Nova Scotia placed there, and as 
the Town is very small — Praying that they may be removed 
elsewhere". The petition recites that whereas there were five 
of the "Nova Scotia People placed there by the Government 
in 1756", "the sheriff had sent twelve and one since". In 
consequence of this petition of Selectman Fuller the General 
Court ordered five of the French to be removed to Wrentham 
at the expense of Needham. See General Court Records, Vol. 
22, p. 185; also the Province Laws (printed). Vol. IV, p. 97. 

The bill sent to the General Court by the selectmen shows 
that Needham had provided for "Thirteen of the Familie 
of the Lebland^" from December 20, 1757 to February 13, 
1758, but at the latter date seven of them were removed to 
Stoughton; the other six were in Needham to March 15, 
1758, and in the care of the town. The account further 
states "we have Provided for Three a Old Man and his 
wife and One of his Dafters. Being in a noor State of health 
to the 20 day day of January 1759". 



556 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

"To Houfe Reant £2= 8=0 = 

To Fire Wood 4 = 10=0 = 

To Indian Corn and 

Meal = 34 Bufhill 4 = 11=0 = 

To Rie & Rie Meall = 
I Buftiill & half & 

one Peck = 5 = 11 = 1 

To 141 2/ of Salt Poork 

Cleare of Bone 2 = 16 = 8=0 

To 353 3/ of Frefh Poork. 

at Sundry Prices 4 = 13=2 = 2 

To 89 Pounds of Beaf at 

Sundry Prices = 16 = 5=0 

To 124 1/ Pounds of 
Mutting at 18 pence 

p. F Pound 1=4 = 10 = 3 

To I Bufhill Frofs 

Fifhe = 1 = 10 = 2 

To 35 Pounds of Chease at 
Sundry Prices = 6=0 = 2 

To II Gallon! of milk = 3 : 11 : i 

To 4 Bufhill & One Pint 

of Beanes 1 = 1=5=0 

To 6 Bufhill & half 

of Patators = 14 = 1=0 

To 6 Bufhill of Turnopts 0=6 = 3 • ^ 

& half a Peck 
To Cabbidges = 1=2 = 2 

To one Bufhill of Salt = 3=2 = 1 

To mouing Seaven of them 

to Stoughton & the Other 

Familey Twife in the 

Town with Mony Expended 

for Said 0-16 = 4-0 

Earos Except'd £25 =0 = 6=0 



< 



Select Men 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 557 

Needham Janauery . 20<^. 1759. 

Amos Fuller 

Thomas Metcalf 

Robert Fuller Jun' 

Eleazer Kingsbery Jun- | j^^^^j^^^ g^j^^,, 

Archives, Vol. 24, p. 133. 

An account dated March 20, 1760, and signed by all five 
of the selectmen, amounted to £21, is., 7d., o., and included 
"To 36 Gallon of milk 19 4". " Six of the Family of 
the Leblanc Since the 20*^^ Day of January 1759: To the 
20*i» Day of March: 1760; of the Family There is an aged 
man and his wife near Seventy years of age; and has a 
Daughter Weekly not able to Labour But Little for her 
Mantainance". Archives, Vol. 24, p. 284. 

On January 30, 1761, Samuel Watts of the Committee 
of the General Court "to alot to every Town in the County 
of Suffolk There proportion of the late Inhabitants of Nova 
Scotia Called French Neutures " directed an order to the 
selectmen of Needham "to take care of " "Francis Liblanc 
margreet his wife; Peter & Simeon their Sons. & you are 
hereby directed to Send Sibbel Liblanc to the Selectmen of 
the Town of Bofton, & Ann Lublanc to the Select men of 
the Town of Stoughton who are directed to Recive them". 
On page 459 is another account of the selectmen of Needham, 
signed by all of them, and dated March 4, 1761, for £20, 
i6s., 9d. expended for the French Neutrals including "Doc^ 
William Deming accompt" £3, 8s., 8d. On March 2, 1762, 
the selectmen granted Dea. Josiah Newell 6s., 5d. which 
he had paid "for the Support of the old French woman; 
And also 13-4 for his Finding Ten Yards of Cloath for a 
Bed Tick for the old French woman in the year Paft". 
On June 28, 1762, the selectmen gave Alexander Shephard 
of Newton an order for £1, 6s., 8d. for his house "that our 
French Nutrals Live in for one Year Paft Ending April 



558 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

y« i^, 1762", and on December 28, 1764, he was allowed 
£1, 2s., lod. for the use of his house in 1763 "for the French 
Nutrals". "To Liut Robert Fuller for the Matiance of the 
French Nutrells & for paying Abiel Smith for Buring the 
Old French man June 29, 1761", £8, i6s., 6d., 2f. (town 
treasurer). On June 28, 1762, the selectmen had granted the 
sum named to Mr. Fuller "for his Paying for the Support 
and Maintainance of the French Nutralls in Said Town; 
For one Year Past which Said year Ended at March Meeting 
1762 Exclufive of the houfe Rent for Said year; And alfo 
for his Paying Abiel Smith his Charge and Coft for his 
Buring the ded French Man who Deceaft June y« 29^^, 
1761". In 1763 Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was reimbursed 
for money "Paid to Support y^ French Neutralls" £6, 
3s., 2id., and Alexander Sheppard "for his House for the 
French to Live in" £2 (treasurer). In 1765 Mr. Shepard 
received £1, 8s., lod. "for Rent of his Houfe". 

INDIANS 

The occasional residence of Maugus and his family at the 
Upper Falls has been referred to in the opening chapters 
of this book, but subsequent to the first settlement of the 
town there appear to have been no Indian inhabitants 
regularly living within its limits, although there was a 
colony of negroes, with more or less Indian blood, dwelling 
along the south shore of Bullard's Pond (Lake Waban), 
and on what is now the Pond Road. The scanty record of 
the Indians, who were found from time to time in Needham, 
is as follows : — 

On March 5, 1765, the Widow Rachel Warren was granted 
£2 "for her providing and taking care of an Indian Squaw 
which happened to fall Sick and Lame in Said town; Named 
Deborah Jack". The next year Joseph Mackintier was 
allowed £4, 7s. for boarding this Deborah Brand alias 
Deborah Jack seventeen weeks and two days, William Brown 
13s., 4d. for boarding her in March, 1766, and Josiah Newell, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 559 

Esq., twelve shillings for clothing for her "y^ winter paft". 
Lieut. Amos Fuller was paid one shilling for a warrant to 
take her to Bridgewater, and Robert Smith, one of the con- 
stables, £2, 6s., 9d. "for Tranfporting Deborah Jack an 
Indian woman from Needham to Bridewater". Early in 
1766 Capt. John Jones was granted is., 6d. "for his Drawing 
a petition to the General Court on account of Deborah 
Brand", and in June, 1767, the town treasurer received 
£9, 1 8s., 8d. from Josiah Edson "one of the Guardians for 
y® Indians in Bridgewater", for expenses incurred by the 
town because of Deborah Brand alias Jack. On March 5, 
1766, Joseph Daniell, Jr., was allowed 6s., 8d. "For the 
Coft and Charge of Buriering an Indian Child which Died 
at his Father Daniel's in the Year 1765". 

In the Journal of the Massachusetts House of Repre- 
sentatives, p. 95, under date of January 5, 1768, is the 
following: "A Petition of William Deming of Needham, 
Physician, praying that he may be allowed for Attendance 
on William Frazer, an Indian, in his last Sickness; and also 
on his Widow and Children as per Account annexed. Read 
and committed to the Committee appointed to consider the 
State of the Indians in the Provence". 

In July, 1776, Michael Bacon petitioned the General 
Court stating "That one Alexander Quapifh a Poor Indian 
Belonging to this State who was taken Sick in the Army 
Near Cambridge and was Difmifed Came to the Houfe 
of your Petitioner in Said Needham in a Suffering Condi- 
tion on the 15*^ Day of November 1775 And Remained there 
Sick untill the 23^^ Day of March 1776 and then Died, and 
your Petitioner was at Great Trouble & Charge in Boarding 
Nurfing, and Burying Said Indian". This petition was 
endorsed by three selectmen, and accompanied by a bill 
of £6, 8s. of which eight shillings were for a coffin, and three 
shillings for "Diging his Grave". Archives, Vol. 214, pp. 
57 and 57!. 



S6o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

WARNINGS OUT OF TOWN 

Under the First Charter there was legislation as to the 
entertainment of strangers, and in 1692 to prevent people 
from gaining a settlement it was necessary for the selectmen 
to issue an order to a constable, whose duty it was to warn 
the intruder out of town within three months of the arrival 
of such a person, and the service of such warning was re- 
quired to be recorded with the clerk of the Court of General 
Sessions of the Peace. In 1701 the time was extended to 
twelve months, and it was the duty of every householder 
who harbored a stranger for forty days to notify the select- 
men of that fact under a penalty of £5, but in 1726 the time 
was reduced to twenty days, and the fine for failure to in- 
form the selectmen was made forty shillings. By the law 
of 173 1 the exact date when the stranger arrived in town, and 
the name of the place from whence he or she came, were 
essential to a proper notice to the selectmen. On March 
6, 171 2/13, the town voted that no person should entertain 
any one not an inhabitant of the town without the advice 
of the selectmen, excepting only able-bodied persons, who 
were in no danger of becoming public charges. 

Every individual locating in a new place expected to be 
warned out, and it was no personal reflection. When Dr. 
Joshua Wheat came to Needham in 1729 to practice medi- 
cine he was promptly warned out, and in his case the action 
of the officials was not as absurd as in some other instances, 
for the Doctor did not prosper. In 1753 Jacob Fullam, the 
well-known Indian agent, was warned out, and in 1765 
Mrs. Eunice Bartlett of Newton, one of our teachers, had a 
similar experience because she brought her little daughter, 
Lois, to Needham. In 1766 Ensign Timothy Cheney, a 
substantial yeoman, who came from Newtown with his 
family, was warned, and this custom continued to the close 
of the century. The list of the individuals warned out of 
town has a value for those interested in family history, as" 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 561 

the names of whole families, sometimes their ages, together 
with other facts, are found in these warnings as recorded 
by our town clerks, who kept a fairly complete record of 
them to the time of the Revolution. 

In 1743/4 Constable William Chub was allowed twenty- 
four shillings, old tenor, for "warning Divers perfons out 
of this town and for his Returning SM to y^ Clerk of y* 
Quarter SelTions", and four years later Dea. Eleazer Kings- 
bery and Henry Dewing were to have £2, 5s. for going to 
Boston "to git a warrant to Carry Nicholus Mutter out of 
Town". This expensive Mutter affair is referred to else- 
where in this book. In 1772 Constable Josiah Ware had 
£2 for twenty-eight warnings and recording them, in 1774 
Constable Ebenezer Fuller charged eight pence each for 
thirteen warnings, and Lieutenant Alden at the same rate 
for forty- two warnings in 1776, or early in 1777. 

The following is a copy of one of the selectmen's warrants : 

"Suffolk: fs To Either of the Conftables of the Town of 
Needham in Said County Greeting 

You are in the Name of the Commonwealth of Mafsa- 
chufetts Directed to warn and Give Notice unto the Follow- 
ing perfons hereafter Mentioned in this warrant who has 
lately Come into Town for the purpofe of abiding therein 
not haveing obtained the Towns Confent Therefor, that they 
Depart the Limets thereof, with their Children or others 
under their Care if Such they have within fifteen Days, 
Viz." 

Then follow the descriptions of eight families, giving 
the names of the wife and children in each, and stating when 
and from whence they came to Needham. One of these 
families was that of Zibeon Hooker, "Gentleman", who 
had been an officer in the War of the Revolution, and who 
was in his old age one of the last survivors of the Battle of 
Bunker Hill. It included his wife, Sarah, and five children, 
all of whom were from "Sherburn", and arrived in Needham 
in May, 1792. At the other extremity of the social scale 



S62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

was Ceaser Cummlngs, Negro, his wife, "Pafince", and six 
children, all from Natick in 1789. There was one unattached 
woman, and four men, including Dr. Ebenezer Star, "Phyfi- 
tion"; the latter came from Weston in 1791. The warrant 
concludes: "And of this Precept with Your Doing thereon, 
you are to make return into the office of the Clerk of the 
Town within Twenty Days Next Coming, that Such further 
proceedings may be had in the Premifes as the Law Directs 
Given under our hands and Seals at Needham aforefaid 
this Twenty ninth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 
Seventeen hundred and Ninety three 
Aaron Smith Ju' 

Silas Alden Selectmen 

Jofiah Newell • of 

Jonathan Kingsbery JuF Needham" 
Robert Smith 
The fact that so many persons were grouped in one war- 
rant, and that some were not recent arrivals, indicates the 
slackness then attending the enforcement of this law, which 
formerly had been taken more seriously. 

SAN FRANCISCO RELIEF 

Independent of the money raised by the Churches for the 
relief of the sufferers by the earthquake and fire in San 
Francisco in April, 1906, and of liberal private contribu- 
tions, there was a public, or town, subscription amounting 
to $761.50. 

SMALLPOX AND HOSPITALS 

On June 2, 1777, the town refused "to Provide a place 
or places for a Hofpital or Hofpitals for the Small Pox", 
and instructed their representative. Deacon Fisher, that he 
"Should Use his Intrft to put a Stop to all y® Hospitals" 
but on September 8, 1792, voted "to have a Hospital or 
Hospitals in said Town for the purpose of persons that are 
Inclined to have the Small pox to Repair to for that purpose 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 563 

and to be under proper regulations " "each Docter that shall 
attend said Hofpitals Should give a bond to the Town 
Treafi of Fifty pounds to be paid by them for each person 
they Shall Enoculate before each patient Sign a bond of 
Ten pounds To said Treaff in Case either of them go out of 
the Limmits Set by the Selectmen and Said Committee 
round the Hofpitals they Refpectively belong to" "The 
Doctors Should have liberty to Enoculate till the First 
monday in October". Nathan Dewing, Moses Fisk, Colonel 
Alden, Cornet Joseph Mudg (as he wrote his name), Dr. 
Samuel Gould and Benjamin Slack were chosen to manage 
the hospitals. In 1806 the town was at some expense on 
account of the smallpox, and article 3 of the warrant for 
September 18, 1809, read "to see if the Town would wish 
to have the Kine Pock go through the Town", the select- 
men to "afsist any one if in their judgment they shall think 
proper". Thanks were voted to the Town of Milton "for 
their benevolent communication in regard to the Kine 
Pock", and the following April Drs. Gould and Morrill 
and David Ayers were chosen to superintend "the inocula- 
tion with the Cowe Pox". In 181 1 Dr. Gould charged the 
town seventy-five cents for "Inonclating three persons 
with the kine Pock". On May 13, 18 16, a committee, con- 
sisting of one from each school district, was chosen "to 
manage Communication Gen! Hospital". At the annual 
meeting in 1833 the selectmen were chosen a committee 
"to attend to the Inoculation of the kine pox", and in 1836 
Capt. Josiah Newell's old house was wanted as a "Hospital 
for the small Pox", and Dea. Jonathan Newell was induced 
to move out of it. This was probably the ancient Newell 
house that stood in the pasture between Charles H. W. 
Foster's and Central Avenue. This disease was prevalent 
in the State in 1872 and in 1873, and Needham did not escape, 
which resulted in the building of a pest-house on the poor- 
farm, and considerable expense in caring for the sick. Since 
1874 this structure has been used for various purposes. 



564 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

BOARD OF HEALTH 

In 1877 the selectmen were chosen as the board of health, 
but in 1885 a separate board was elected. In 1891 the select- 
men again became the board of health, and Albert M. 
Miller, M.D., was appointed "Health Officer", and served 
four years. Dr. Miller had been a member of the board of 
health 1885-90. 



The Institution of human slavery never flourished In 
Needham, but a few blacks were held in bondage here, as 
the Church records and Inventories of estates testify. At 
the time of the War of the American Revolution Capt. 
William Farls, a Loyalist, and William Bowdoln, Esq., 
were the only slave holders in town, and were each taxed 
for one slave. In 1775 "two negro Child-? Belonging to 
Cap? William Faris named Prince & Silvia" were baptized 
by the minister of the First Church. The late Horace Mann 
stated that he found the names of four slaves of Capt. 
Faris (Farrls) : — Jack, who went to England in 1779, 
Sylvia, who was sold to Sir Henry Frankland, Terence, who 
died of the smallpox, and Phebe. Mr. Mann said that the 
Phebe Included In his list was supported by the Farrls 
family In her old age. If so, apparently there were two 
Phebes. In 1789 Eliab Moor was granted £3, 6s. for " Board- 
ing and Nurfing Phebe Farrls a Black woman", David Hall 
£1, los. "for a Sheet and hankerchief that Said Phebe was 
burled in", David Bacon seven shillings for her cofhn, and 
William Dunton three shillings for digging her grave. She 
died after a long Illness during which she was attended by 
Dr. Morrill. Her child was also "on the town" In 1789, 
and in 1792 Phebe's son was boarded with Jethro Cato, 
a negro. About 1790 a "Malatto Girl" is referred to in the 
town records. It does not appear whether Elizabeth Zetor, 
"Mulatoe", had been a slave or not, but in 177 1 the town 
bore the expense of her last illness and burial. 



566 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

FREE NEGROES 

In i8oi Boston Fude was a conspicuous negro, or half- 
breed, whose family is often mentioned in the records, and 
he ultimately came on the town. His daughter, wife of 
"prince Cook", got badly burned in 1802, but not fatally, 
and that year her child died, its coffin costing the town $1.33- 
Pomp Allen was in Needham as early as 1804, and Cato 
Boston in 18 16, when the town attempted to rid him of 
pediculidae. In 1817 "Boston" was "in gaol", but it does 
not appear whether Boston Fude or Cato Boston was thus 
imprisoned. Late in 1816 Luther Smith, 2d, for many years 
the sexton of the West Precinct, buried "Rebeccah Jahaw 
who died at Primas Kings", and in 18 17 the Sisco family 
was on the town, including the "wife of Sisco a person of 
color". Susan Kitteridge and Jenny Kitteridge were also 
assisted. Jethro Cato died about 1817, or 1818, and his 
widow Dinah, who lived just at the point where Charles 
River Street and Pine Street come together, was a ward 
of the town, and such items as $5 for "repairing Mrs. 
Dinah's house" are among the selectmen's orders. The old 
South school-house was east of her dwelling and nearer to 
it than the school building that was burned on August 18, 
1899, and which had been used for social gatherings for 
some years. Owing to its proximity to Dinah's, this school 
was called the Dinah School, and after the lapse of a century 
this name is occasionally heard. It is not quite as serious 
an offence to speak of the Parker School as the Dinah School 
as it is to refer to Greendale by its ancient name of Pudding 
Point, a designation discontinued within thirty years. 
Dinah's little home finally came into the possession of the 
town, by authority of the General Court, and a part of the 
place was sold in 183 1, and the remainder a few years 
later. Royal Woodward paid $15.25 for the "Dinah Barn" 
in 1835. The property is referred to in town warrants as 
the "Dinah Farm". The Coffee family long existed in 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 567 

Needham, but by July, 1823, both Ishmael and his wife 
were dead. There was one Newport Green, who boarded 
colored people, and he may have been of mixed race. The 
Natick Indians, which included remnants of several tribes, 
had by 1750 a considerable infusion of negro blood, and 
it is probable that Oliver Cromwell, Jethro Cato, and 
others represented both races. The rather notorious Jupiter 
Coffee, who had been a slave, intermarried with an Indian, 
and a citizen of our town, than whom no man was better 
known twenty-five years ago, was said to be of Coffee and 
Indian descent. 

On April 7, 1851, the town adopted a preamble and reso- 
lutions as to the Fugitive Slave Law, which was not accept- 
able to Needham, and three years later protested against 
the "admission of Slavery into territory now free". 



^fipsiciang 



Dr. Joshua Wheat came to Needham in 1729 and lived 
nearly opposite the northeast end of Longfellow's Pond, on 
the corner at the termination of Oakland Street. It does 
not appear that his practice became lucrative. He died 
March 2, 1762, at Jonathan Huntting's house. Dr. John 
Allen of Newton, previously referred to, attended the poor in 
Needham from about 1743 to 1756. In 1768 Dr. "Downna" 

was granted £1 "for his coming to one time 

when he Broke his Bones the Laft year"; this presumably 
refers to Dr. Eliphalet Downer of Newton, who practiced 
here prior to the Revolution, as did Dr. Nathaniel Ames of 
Dedham and a Dr. Adams, all of whom were employed by 
the town. In fact the orders given for attendance upon the 
town's poor are about the only source of information avail- 
able as to the doctors who had patients in Needham before 
1825. Dr. William Deming, who lived on the east side of 
what is now Washington Street, north of Wellesley Avenue, 
in a house which Robert Jennison finished in 1755, was our 
earliest resident physician with the exception of Dr. Wheat. 
Dr. Deming practiced in town about thirty-five years, until 
his death in 1789 at the age of sixty-two years. His grave- 
stone is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley. He died of the 
"great cold" or influenza, during an epidemic. It has been 
said that the old-school doctors left the care of children en- 
tirely to the women, and this is true to a great extent, but 
Dr. Deming was the recipient of quaint orders on account 
of "Sundry Vifets and Medicens applied" to children who 
were on the town. Dr. Nathaniel Tolman, whose family 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 569 

were of Needham, ministered to the poor of the town before 
1775, and from 1774 to 1792 Dr. Josiah Starr of Weston 
attended them at times. In 178 1 Dr. WiUiam Ward, and 
in 1783 Dr. John King, the latter of "Newtown," were 
employed by the town. In May, 1791, Dr. Isaac Morrill 
of Natick, who became a citizen of Needham in 1797 by 
the change in the boundary, had been "Doctering" the 
town's poor for some years. He was one of our earliest 
resident doctors, and lived to be ninety-one years old, dying 
May 5, 1839. He presented to his successor. Dr. Noyes, 
some ancient and unpleasant-looking surgical instruments, 
samples of which have been presented to the Dover Historical 
Society by Mr. Ward N. Hunt. Dr. Morrill lived on Wash- 
ington Street in a house now owned by the Hunnewell 
family. Dr. Timothy Fuller was born in East Needham, 
and lived there, presumably practicing his profession, but 
he died January 12, 1799, at the early age of thirty-three 
years. There are selectmen's orders in his favor on account 
of attendance on the poor. He studied medicine with Dr. 
Samuel Willard of Uxbridge. In 1792 Dr. Peter Fisk of 
West Needham, who long practiced in Needham, was em- 
ployed by the town at £2, 2s. per year to treat the poor, 
but Daniel Breding, who does not have the title of Doctor 
in our records, was also paid for medical services. Dr. 
Fisk removed to Warwick and died there. Dr. Ebenezer 
Starr, a son of Dr. Josiah Starr, came to town in 1791, but 
removed to Newton Lower Falls, where he was in practice 
about forty years to his death August 24, 1830. He occa- 
sionally had a bill against the Town of Needham, and pre- 
sumably had patients there other than the poor. Dr. Samuel 
Adams, M.B. 1794, M.D. 1802, Harvard, is said to have 
settled in East Needham, but removed to Boston, and thence 
to Cincinnati, where he died in 1845, aged seventy-four years. 
Dr. Samuel Gould came to town about 1800, and lived 
on the north corner of what is now Highland Avenue and 
Rosemary Street. He practiced medicine, and his name 



570 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

occurs among those whose services were availed of by the 
town. Until into the nineteenth century bleeding was a 
favorite prescription, and Dr. Gould resorted to it after 
Dr. Noyes came to town in 1825. Dr. Gould removed to 
Dedham between May i, 1828, and May, 1832. All of our 
earlier doctors were more or less in public office. Dr. Mor- 
rill served as a tythingman in 181 1, '13, '15, '18, and as 
fence viewer in 18 16. Dr. Gould appears to have been 
more prominent as a school-master and town officer than as 
a physician. 

In addition to payments to doctors resident in towns as 
distant as Boston and Cambridge, for Needham was some- 
times responsible for persons who had removed from town, 
but had not acquired other settlements, there were orders 
from 1795 to 1820 in favor of the following physicians living 
in near by towns: — Drs. George Caryl of Dover, Jesse 
Wheaton of Dedham, Asa Adams, Aaron(,?) Wight of Med- 
way.? earlier of Medfield, Aaron Hill, Marshall (?) Spring of 
Watertown?, Benjamin Waterhouse of Cambridge, John Ball 
Kitteridge (Kittredge) of Framingham, William Stone, 
Daniel Swan of Medford, Alexander Thayer of Boston(.?), 
Jeremy Stimson of Dedham and Samuel Flanders. From 
1821 to 1850 the local doctors, particularly Dr. Noyes, at- 
tended the poor, but the names of the following out of town 
practitioners occur: — Drs. Moore, Stephen H. Spaulding of 
Newton Upper Falls 1 841-3, Henry Starr, Simeon Burt 
Carpenter, successor of Dr. Ebenezer Starr at Newton 
Lower Falls, and later at Dedham many years, Ezra Nichols 
of Newton, who set a broken leg, E. L. Warren, surgeon, 
and Tappan Eustis Francis of Brookline, surgeon. Dr. 
Francis located at Newton Lower Falls in 1848, and was 
there about three years. Edward Warren was a physician at 
Newton Lower Falls from 1840 to 1857. 

Dr. Josiah Noyes came to Needham in 1825 and practiced 
there till his death in 1871. A sketch of his life will be found 
later in this book. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 571 

Dr. Albert Dexter Kingsbury, M.D. Georgetown Uni- 
versity, D. C, 1869, succeeded Dr. Noyes, so far as East 
Needham was concerned, coming to town about the time of 
the latter's decease. Dr. Kingsbury has had an extensive 
practice, and has been prominent in the affairs of the town 
and of the EvangeHcal Congregational Church. He has 
been commander of Galen Orr Post G. A. R. Kingsbury 
Block bears his name, and he is the owner of other property 
in the business section. During the years 1894-9 he was 
away from town, and in 1894 and 1895 Dr. Frank P. Hudnut 
occupied his house, and in a measure had his practice. Dr. 
Osman H. Hubbard took Dr. Hudnut's place from 1895 to 
1898, and remained in town a year or so after Dr. Kingsbury's 
return. 

Dr. Henry Tucker Mansfield, M.D. Harvard 1869, has 
been a highly respected citizen of Needham, and an able and 
faithful physician in that town for nearly forty years. He 
has been the town doctor for many years, and is esteemed by 
all for his kindness of heart and genial manners. He also is 
a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the navy. 

Dr. Albert Ebur Miller, M.D. University of Pennsyl- 
vania, acquired real estate interests here in the seventies, 
and became a citizen of this town in 1876, and for consider- 
ably more than thirty years has practiced medicine here, at 
the same time continuing his office in Boston. Dr. Miller 
is one of the most prominent residents of the town, and his 
wife, Mrs. Vesta Delphine Miller, was a greatly beloved 
physician, of whom some account will be found in the chap- 
ter devoted to Temperance. Dr. Albert Monroe Miller, 
M.D. Dartmouth 1882, is a nephew of Dr. A. E. Miller, and 
has practiced in this town and vicinity since his graduation, 
also serving as agent of the board of health, as a town physi- 
cian, and at the present time as a medical inspector of the 
schools. 

Dr. James Henry Grant, M.D. Bowdoin 1856, was for 
many years a noted doctor at Newton Upper Falls, and came 



572 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to Needham to pass his declining years, but occasionally 
attended a patient, some of the older people preferring him. 
He was a doctor of the old school, a familiar figure on our 
streets, and recognized as a sturdy champion of good govern- 
ment. He impressed the writer as a rugged character, large 
in body and mind. He died December 24, 1900. 

Dr. William Mitchell of Needham Heights, M.D. McGill 
College and University, came to town in 1898 or 1899, and 
is an able and successful physician. Dr. Charles Wood 
Pease, M.D. Dartmouth 1899, is one of the younger doctors 
in town, and practiced here for some time before removing 
to Merrimac. He returned to Needham in 1904, or early 
in 1905, and resumed his practice in this locality. 

Since 1900 Dr. Merton K. Cole has practiced here as an 
osteopathic physician, and for a number of years lived in 
town. Dr. J. Walter Schirmer, a young homeopathic prac- 
titioner, located in Needham in 1909, or 1910, and is a fine 
musician in addition to professional accomplishments. He 
received the degree of M.D. from Boston University in 
1908, and did post-graduate work at the University of 
Vienna in 1909. He is instructor in sanitary science at the 
Boston University School of Medicine, and assistant ortho- 
paedic surgeon at the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital. 

Isaac Hills Hazelton, who was born May 17, 1838, ap- 
pears to have been the only physician resident in what is 
now Wellesley in the early seventies. He graduated at 
the Medical School of Harvard University in 1861. Under 
date of June 7, 1909, Dr. Hazelton wrote: "I came to 
Grantville (now Wellesley Hills) August, 1872. At that 
time Dr. Townsend, of South Natick, and Dr. Lord of 
Newton Lower Falls had the greater part of the practice 
in these parts. Dr. Townsend had been in S. Natick many 
years having the best of the work to do. Before Dr. Lord 
went to Newton Lower Falls there were two physicians 
there, Dr. Warren and Dr. Perkins, who must have been 
in practice in 1850." "I was an Assistant Surgeon in the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 573 

regular Navy 1861-5: think I served longer than any man 
in town, full four years." "Am Companion In the Loyal 
Legion." "The house I now live in was built before the 
Revolutionary War as two men lived here who went to 
Concord ". The doctors referred to by Dr. Hazelton were 
Dr. George J. Townsend, who for years came to West 
Needham daily, often several times In a day, and Dr. Friend 
D. Lord, who died December 8, 1883, in his sixty-second 
year. 

Uranus Owen Brackett Wingate, M.D. Dartmouth 1875, 
located In what Is now the Town of Wellesley in 1875, and 
practiced there till 1886, when he went to Milwaukee, where 
he has been a professor in the Wisconsin College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, and a well-known writer on medical 
topics. When sixteen years old he entered the Union Army 
and was with General William T. Sherman. About 1876 
Dr. George H. Hackett came to the West part of the town, 
but does not appear to have remained there more than a 
year or two. 

DOCTOR JOSIAH NOYES 

Josiah Noyes was born in Acton, Mass., October 8, 1801, 
and in childhood removed with his family to Westmore- 
land, N. H. In 1825 he received the degree of M.D. from 
Dartmouth College, and that year went to Needham to 
visit his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Noyes, then minister of 
the West Church there. It was late In the evening when 
Josiah reached Needham Centre, and he accepted an in- 
vitation to pass the night at the house of Major Ebenezer 
M'=Intosh. This house had been built by the Major in 
1822, and was purchased by Dr. Noyes In 1835, and was 
his home during the rest of his life. The estate consisted 
of two acres, with barn, ox-shed and other outbuildings, 
and joins the home of the writer, who was the Doctor's 
next neighbor on the north. Young Noyes was so favorably 
impressed with Needham that he decided to remain, teach- 



574 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

ing school and practicing medicine. For some years he 
boarded at a house that stood close to the Charles River, 
on the easterly side of South Street, in Charles River Vil- 
lage. On November 12, 1834, he removed to the Centre of 
the town, and December 19, 1835, he was married to Eliza- 
beth, daughter of David and Nancy (Cutting) Hunt of 
Boylston. Mrs. Noyes was born in Boylston, September 
5, 1815, and died in Needham, September 21, 1902. She 
came to Needham in 183 1 to attend the private school, or 
academy, of the Rev. Daniel Kimball, and was highly re- 
spected by successive generations. Dr. Noyes was a founder 
of the Needham Temperance Society, and was active in 
the temperance cause throughout the County. He was 
no less prominent in the lyceums, and was well known as 
a lecturer on scientific topics. For sixteen years, 1828-34, 
'36-44, inclusive, he was a useful member of the Superin- 
tending School Committee. His interest in everything of 
a scientific character was unfailing, but in botany he ex- 
celled, and the manuscript volumes, which contain speci- 
mens with his notes, his "herbarium," as he called them, 
have been consulted in recent years by expert botanists, 
who say that the books are of great value. 

It has been said that Dr. Noyes was invited to give 
twelve lectures on Comparative Botany in the Lowell In- 
stitute courses, and was to receive $1200 as compensation, 
a large sum in the eyes of a country doctor, but that he was 
too modest in estimating his own abilities, and declined 
the tempting offer. He had some skill as a surveyor, and 
assisted materially in the preparation of the 183 1 map of 
the town. He played the violoncello in the Church, and had 
a small organ at his house, which afforded him much pleas- 
ure; he was also a singer. His diary, 1825-36, has been of 
service to local antiquaries, and his note-books show his 
scholarly interests, as do his astronomical and other charts, 
which were made with skill and much patient labor. He 
kept an elaborate record of the weather, of the coming of 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 575 

the birds, of the appearance of the flowers, described his 
practice, and told of the journeys that he made to West- 
moreland, N. H., to visit his relatives. It is to be re- 
gretted that his journal subsequent to 1836 has not been 
preserved. He was prominent in the Masonic fraternity, 
a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Pil- 
grim Society, and doubtless of other organizations. In 
1857 he and his wife were among the original members of the 
Evangelical Congregational Church in Needham. He was 
a strong Jeffersonian, and his support of President Jackson 
was offensive to some persons, including his wife's family. 
Dr. Noyes had a large practice, and was greatly beloved. 
He furnished the medicines, and until late in life his fee was 
fifty cents in the daytime, and seventy-five cents in the 
night, but his carelessness as a collector was proverbial, 
and he was sadly imposed upon. In many instances there 
was no disposition shown to pay him his modest bills, and 
his administrator could obtain only $1700 out of ^7000 
charged. Much of it was outlawed, and considerable sums 
were offset by fictitious claims; a familiar trick in the 
older Needham, when the creditor was dead. 

Many anecdotes are still told of the Doctor, who was 
of the "old school", although in some respects ahead of his 
time, and the writer can recall the venerable white horse 
and the chaise that made their daily rounds. The Doctor 
died after a brief illness January 6, 1871, and his grave is 
marked by a monument erected by the people whom he 
served so faithfully for three generations. The picture of 
the Doctor's house was contributed by his brother-in-law, 
Mr. Ward Nicholas Hunt, but lacks the long shed on the 
east end of the dwelling, and the ox-barn, which was at 
right angles with the other barn, and between it and the 
well-curb. Both of these buildings were taken away within 
a few years of the Doctor's death. 

Noyes Street is named in memory of Dr. Noyes. 



Jf ire JSepartment 



For many decades a fire Involved the town in expense 
for "spirit and Sugar", or for rum, and our records mention 
the fires, such as that "in Needham woods May y^ 5*'» 
1826" in connection with Hquor bills, and as incidental to 
them. In 1829, or early in 1830, there were fires at the 
Rev. Mr. Ritchie's house, now owned by Augustus W. 
Newell, at William A. Kingsbury's, at Nathan Macintosh's 
and at Amraphel Smith's, all in East Needham, and these 
fires appear to have been quenched, in part, with liquor. 

On April 3, 1838, the town voted to "exempt the Engine 
men from a Poll tax", and late in 1840 to "furnish a hose 
Carriage for the Use of the Engine Company at the Lower 
falls", the cost not to exceed $35. In 1843 the town ap- 
pointed a committee to raise money by subscription for a 
new engine for the Lower Falls, although the majority of 
the members of the fire-company there were Newton men, 
and the apparatus was kept on their side of the river. This 
committee, which consisted of Colonel Rice, William Flagg, 
Lyman Greenwood, Galen Orr, Elisha Lyon and Richard 
Boynton, was also to consider the question of fire protec- 
tion at the Upper Falls, where there was also an engine-com- 
pany. They reported, and in 1844 the town appropriated 
$150 for fire-engines: — Lower Falls $60, East Needham 
$60 and the Upper Falls $30. The town treasurer paid 
$35 for the Lower Falls hose-carriage to the "Treasurer of 
Engine Company Number i ". It had been customary 
for the town to pay for the refreshments for local and out- 
of-town firemen when doing duty in Needham, and in 1840 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 577 

Francis Keyes was paid $1.50 for services in Engine Com- 
pany Number 2, Upper Falls, and in the forties $25 per 
year, or more, were regularly paid to Nathaniel Wales, Jr., 
and other members of Cataract Engine Company Number 
I, at the Lower Falls. In 185 1 the town paid $70 to E. C. 
Jenkins, Francis Boyd, J. B. Martin, P. Frost, Jr., G. W. 
Moulton, Oliver Morse, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Elijah Si- 
monds, Charles Rice, Jr., Willard Hurd, George K. Daniell, 
George Spring, John Appleton and John J. Ware for ser- 
vices in Cataract Engine Company for the year ending 
April I, 1 85 1. In 1850 $70 had been paid to Nathaniel 
Wales, Jr., and to others, not naming them, as enginemen 
of Number i. 

In 1849 Josiah Eaton and others were paid $9 for serving 
a year in Engine Company Number 4, Upper Falls, and in 
1850 Henry E. Burton and others had $45 for serving as 
enginemen in this company for one year. These payments 
were the result of a vote passed in 1849 to pay the "Engine 
men" $5 each. In 1857 the selectmen were directed to 
buy five hundred feet of hose, which was to be kept at the 
Lower Falls. 

By a vote of the town in 1870 the number of "Engine- 
men" at the Upper and Lower Falls was to be limited to 
thirty-five, viz., thirty-one firemen and four hosemen; the 
firemen were to receive $10 per year, each, and the hose- 
men $15. That year Charles S. Morse was paid $270 for 
the services of twenty-one firemen and four hosemen of 
Cataract Engine Number i, and S. H. Potter $80 for five 
firemen and two hosemen of Mechanics Engine. Exactly 
the same amount was paid to the same number of men in 
1 87 1, and until the close of 1876 these payments were con- 
tinued, amounting in 1874 to $296.28 for Cataract Engine 
Company and $123.42 for Mechanics Engine Company, 
the total expenditure on account of fires exceeding the 
customary appropriation of $500, which was increased to 
$750 in 1875, but again reduced to $500 in 1876. From 1877 



578 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to the division of the town in 1881 the engine-companies 
were paid for special services only, which in some years 
reduced the cost of extinguishing fires below $100, and in 
1880 the grant was decreased from $500 to $200. The pay- 
ments for the engine-companies were made to W. R. Dimond 
in 1875. 

There were no fire officials in Needham until March 4, 
1833, when the town chose George W. Hoogs, William 
Flagg, William Pierce, Davis C. Mills, Tyler Pettee and Dea. 
Elisha Lyon as firewards. Prior to that date the fire depart- 
ment included practically all the men and boys in the town, 
some of whom were provided with fire-buckets and canvas 
bags; the latter for the removal of smaller articles, including 
babies, from burning buildings. In 1880 there were twelve 
firewards, and of these Bill Burrill, 2d, had served twenty- 
six years, and was a familiar figure at fires, where he some- 
times roped off the burning premises, to keep people from 
danger, which, however, he never shunned himself, and 
always issued many orders, particularly to the boys. From 
1872 to 1884 the firewards were appointed by the select- 
men, and in 1885 the latter were authorized to choose a 
board of five "Fire Engineers", in place of the firewards, 
and these engineers were also the only forest firewards 
until 1904, when the selectmen named four of the engineers 
and two other citizens as "Forest Firewards." In their 
report for 1874 the selectmen advised the construction of 
reservoirs at Grantville, Wellesley and Needham, the 
purchase of hand-engines for the two latter places, and 
fire-buckets and ladders for all three, and also for Highland- 
ville. The subject was referred to a committee consisting 
of Edgar H. Bowers, John M. Harris, John Mansfield, Mark 
Lee, Joseph E. Fiske and the firewards at the Upper and 
Lower Falls. The town then owned hose at the Lower 
Falls, perhaps the same that was purchased in 1857, and in 
1875 voted $500 to renew it, and provided twelve badges 
for the firewards at a cost of $21.25. ^^ 1876 the special 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 579 

appropriation of $500 had been expended for four hundred 
feet of number one hose, and fifteen Johnson pumps which 
were obtained from the National Manufacturing Company 
for $99.50. In 1877 a hose-carriage with axes was bought 
from the City of Newton. 

For many years the following out-of-town companies 
did duty in Needham: — Cataract Engine Number i, 
Eliot Engine Number I, Mechanics Engine, all of Newton, 
and occasionally one of the Natick companies. At the fire 
at Eaton & Moulton's machine shop in 1853, besides Cataract 
Engine Number i, there were present Engine Company 
Number 5 of Newton Corner, Number 6 of Newton Centre, 
Number 3 of Waltham, and Number 7 of Brighton. 

In 1882 the town chose a committee to consider the 
whole question of protection from fire, and as a result twenty 
Johnson pumps, six blankets, one hundred feet of hose, and 
a hook and ladder truck, the latter costing $760, were pur- 
chased. The next year the equipment was increased by 
two, or more, ladders, and two dozen fire-buckets, and in 
1884 the fire-engine Niagara, built in 1843, and still pre- 
served as a curiosity, was bought from the town of Hing- 
ham for $250. The engine Independence Number 2 and 
a hose-wagon were obtained from the town of Randolph 
for $350. Niagara was a prominent feature in the Bicen- 
tennial pageant in 191 1. In 1885 the engine-house at 
what is now Needham Heights and also the one on Chest- 
nut Street were built by Henry S. Locke, contractor, for 
$3000, on land acquired for the purpose. On March 4, 
1889, $900 were appropriated for a fire-alarm system, and 
that year the bells of the First Church and of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church were made alarm-bells, boxes were 
placed at the engine-houses, and one at the junction of 
Nehoiden and Rosemary Streets; the latter was box 46. 
The first fire-alarm was rung on Fast Day 1890, from box 
28, the Great Plain engine-house, by Henry Derby Rodgers, 
who was the first superintendent and organizer of our 



58o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

fire-alarm system, and who served until he resigned on 
May I, 1895. He had much enthusiasm for the fire depart- 
ment, and with little or no compensation rendered valuable 
service. Although Mr. Rodgers had an exacting occupation 
in Boston, he was usually one of the first to report for duty 
when there was a fire, and was an energetic and efficient 
fireman. 

The town had fifty miles of fire-alarm wires in 1905, and 
the system has since been perfected. In 1910 $1300 were 
appropriated for an automatic repeater, which at some 
additional expense was installed in the assessors' ofiice. 

In 1890 a hook and ladder company was formed and the 
department included upward of ninety men. The engine- 
companies continued to be Niagara Number i, at the Great 
Plain, and Independent Number 2, at Highlandville, but, 
as the result of the introduction of town water, both were 
disbanded on January i, 1891, and two hose-companies 
took their places. For the latter two hose-wagons were 
bought for $711, and two thousand feet of hose for $1250, 
increasing the quantity of hose owned by the town to three 
thousand feet. 

In 1905 the department consisted of a hook and ladder 
company and a hose-company of ten men each at the Great 
Plain, a hose-company of ten at Highlandville, one of four, 
which had been formed in July, 1893, at the Upper Falls, 
and another of five men at Greendale. The last mentioned 
was organized in 1900, and provided with a reel and five 
hundred feet of hose. In 1905 the town bought a combina- 
tion wagon, carrying both hydrant and chemical hose, a 
ladder, two pony extinguishers, and various implements, 
together with a chemical tank. This wagon cost $1200, 
and was located at Station Number 2. In 1907 the town 
paid $1800 for a similar wagon for Station i. 

On January i, 1908, Combination Company Number i 
took the place of Hose Company Number i, at the Great 
Plain, and on March 24 Hose Company Number i was 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 581 

re-established at Charles River Village, the apparatus 
having been transferred from the Great Plain. 

Since 1 88 1 the town has owned no horse except one pur- 
chased in 1905 for the use of the Water Department, and 
the horses for the fire service have been hired. 

In 1901 a Firemen's Relief Association was formed in 
the department for mutual assistance in case of disability 
from illness or accident resulting from the duties of the 
service. 

The appropriation for the Fire Department was $1625 
in 1890, $2075 in 1895, $2206 in 1900, and $3806 in 1910, 
besides $4000 for hydrant service and $1800 for the improve- 
ment of the fire-alarm system. A large sum for hydrant 
service, in addition to the amounts named, has been annu- 
ally granted since the introduction of water. The Needham 
Fire Department was efficient even in the days of small 
resources, and had some hard battles with the devouring 
element. The courage and good judgment shown at such 
fires as that which destroyed the Odd Fellows Building 
in 1887, and endangered the business section, deservedly 
called forth the highest praise.^ 

The Chief Engineers have been: — Thomas James Cross- 
man, 1885 (resigned), Henry Augustus Kingsbury, 1885, 
1894-1908, George Adams, 1886-90 (five years), John 
Henry Whittemore, 1891-3 (three years), Henry Howard 
Upham, 1908- . 

* At midnight of May 12, 1887, as the latest train from Boston stopped at 
Needham, fire was seen issuing from the basement of the Odd Fellows Building, 
and the engineer gave the alarm by the whistling of the locomotive. The firemen 
saved the rest of the business section, but the Odd Fellows Building was entirely 
destroyed. In addition to a number of stores and offices, the building contained 
the Needham Chronicle printing plant, and the library of the Needham Library 
Association. A considerable number of valuable books from the private library 
of the Rev. Solon W. Bush had been received within a day or two, and were still 
in the cases in which they came. The loss of this gift from Mr. Bush was especially 
regretted, and also the destruction of the reprints of the town records from 171 1 
to 1720, which perished with the Chronicle office. 



582 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

TOWN WATER 

In 1799 Ephraim Jackson of Needham, "Miller", gave 
a bond of $200 to Simon Elliot of Boston, Esquire, that in 
consideration of $50 he would "convey from a certain 
Spring situate in a meadow, owned by me the said Ephraim, 
which lies on the south side of Charles River adjoining the 
Estate of Benjamin Slack & South of the fulling mill in 

said Water in pitch pine logs of a bore of two 

inches, a crofs the River to the Island, now owned by one 
John Ware". This somewhat lengthy instrument, among 
other privileges, grants a "perfect right title & enjoyment 
in & to the said spring with the waters therein to his & 
their sole use, benefit & behoof forever", and the grantee 
may enter on the land of the grantor to repair the works 
which were to be "done & finished" before October i, 
1800. 

Early in 1887 the question of a water supply was con- 
sidered important, and in July $500 were voted for the use 
of a committee, which consisted of Dr. Albert E. Miller, 
C. Atherton Hicks, Thomas Frederick Peabody, James E. 
Cahill and William Carter. This committee had been 
chosen in March to investigate the sources and means of 
obtaining water. In December Mr. Hicks read an elaborate 
report on the subject, which was accepted, and Dr. A. E. 
Miller, T. F. Peabody, William Carter, Everett J. Eaton 
and Edgar H. Bowers were chosen to petition the General 
Court for an enabling Act. The Act was approved on 
March 8, 1888, and Needham was authorized to issue bonds 
to the amount of $75,000, to meet the expense of the intro- 
duction of water. This authority to issue bonds was ex- 
tended by $30,000 in 1891, and by subsequent Acts to 
$280,000. By an Act approved on March 24, 1888, the 
Town of Wellesley had been empowered to furnish Needham 
with water, and on April 26, 1890, a similar privilege was 
granted to the City of Newton, but neither of these Acts 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 583 

has been availed of beyond supplying the Hotel Wellesley 
and estates on Grove Street, through which street Welles- 
ley extended its mains in 1888. 

The first attempts to obtain a two thirds vote in favor of 
town water were failures, although the meetings were largely 
attended, and there was much excitement, but on November 
7, 1889, it was carried by a vote of 322 to 144. The first 
water commissioners were elected on December 3, 1889, 
and before the end of 1890 the more densely populated 
portions of the town were supplied with water of the best 
quality from the Colburn Spring. The mains were extended 
until in 1905 practically the entire community had the town 
water. In October, 1897, the town took action to secure 
the "permanent preservation of the purity of its water 
supply", and the following year the water reservation of 
fifteen acres was increased to seventy-three and one half 
acres by the purchase of the balance of the Colburn farm. 
Well Number 2 was made in 1900, and cost over $5000. 
In 1902 the Hicks Spring was added with seven acres of 
land at an expense of about $2600. The basin near the 
pumping station dates from 1903, and covers seven acres. 
It has a capacity of nine million gallons, and has a core 
wall, gate-house and two bridges; water was let into it 
from the Hicks Spring on November 18, 1903. Lewis E. 
Hawes, who has been the town's engineer from the beginning 
of the water system, superintended the construction of 
this basin. About 1825 the land now forming the town's 
water reservation was owned by Mr. Dunton, who had a 
narrow strip containing ten acres, and extending from Blind 
Lane (Green Street) to the Boulevard, and by George 
Kingsbury, known as "Nighthawk", who lived where the 
Glancys do, near the Causeway, and who owned the swamp 
of forty acres. 

After the old roadside drinking-places were destroyed 
the town apparently did nothing to replace them until 1875, 
when four watering-troughs were established. In 1891 



584 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

three drinking-fountains for animals were provided, and a 
year later cups were attached to these fountains. 

In 1 891 less than ten million gallons of water were pumped, 
but in a dozen years the quantity exceeded one hundred 
million gallons annually. In 1910 more than one hundred 
and twenty-one million gallons were pumped. The pumping 
station is on about an acre of land purchased of Dr. Elbridge 
G. Leach, and the stand-pipe is on Ryan's Hill, nearly a 
mile to the northeast of the station. 

The Water Commissioners have been: — John Moseley, 
1889-92. John Manlove Hodge, 1889-July 8, 1899 (re- 
signed). James Mackintosh, 1890 (chosen January 29, 
vice James Wentworth Brown, who had declined to serve) 
-5 (six years); chairman the entire time. George Albert 
Adams, 1893-6 (resigned). Edmund George Pond, 1896- 
1901, '04- , chairman 1896-8, '01, '05, '08, '09, '11. 
Frederic Gould Tuttle, 1896-Oct. 22, 1903, chairman 1899, 
1900, '03. George Henry Toone, 1900- , chairman 1902, 
'06. William Carter, 1902- , chairman Oct. 28, 1903, 
'04, '07, '10. 

Superintendents: — John M. Hodge, 1890, '91, Joseph W. 
Leonard, Jan. i, 1892-June i, 1893, George A. Adams, 
June I, 1893- . 

Engineers: — John M. Hodge, i89a-August, 1895, Charles 
H. Mitchell, August, 1895- . 

STREET LIGHTS 

On March 13, 1871, the town dismissed article 16, which 
was to see if the town would light certain streets by gas. 

In 1874 the town expended $150 on account of forty-six 
street lights maintained by the Grantville Street Light Com- 
pany, and four lights cared for by residents of East Needham. 
The next year there was but one, possibly two, street lamps 
in the latter section, although $450 were appropriated for 
street lights, and in 1878 most of the one hundred and 
seventy-nine lamps were in the West. In 1881 the General 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 585 

Court authorized the Newton and Watertown Gas Light 
Company to lay and maintain pipes in Weston and Need- 
ham, but East Needham derived no benefit from this Act. 
The effort to introduce street lights Is said to have origi- 
nated with the Needham Improvement Society, and in 1883 
James Mackintosh raised by subscription about $1320, 
with which eighty-eight street lamps, with posts, were 
obtained, and the town voted to care for them. In 1888 
there were one hundred and eight lamps, and kerosene 
was used; in 1893 the number of lamps was one hundred 
and twenty-seven. In 1885 the appropriation for their 
maintenance was $800. Henry D. Rodgers was active in 
securing and establishing these lights, and is said to have 
cared for and lighted some of the earlier lamps for a week, 
without pay, and in addition to his regular occupation, 
which required many hours each day. 

On March 7, 1892, and again on May 31, of that year, 
the town accepted by large majorities Chapter 370, of 
the Acts of 1891, which authorized towns and cities to es- 
tablish and own lighting plants, and public opinion In Need- 
ham was then strongly against contracting with a com- 
pany or corporation. In furtherance of this view $10,000 
were appropriated on June 23, 1893, bonds running for 
thirty years to be Issued. The selectmen were to be com- 
missioners of the sinking fund, and were to establish an 
electric lighting system, but on September 15 they were 
instructed by the town to contract with the Eliot Falls 
Electric Light Company for the current. At the latter 
meeting an additional issue of bonds for thirty years, amount- 
ing to $3500, was voted. There were to be three hundred 
lights, for which the town was to pay $175.85 per month. 
At the town meeting on March 20, 1893, the selectmen had 
reported that the cost of nineteen miles of poles and wires 
would be $11,021, but the actual expense amounted to 
about $14,000, met by the "Electric Light Loan". The 
last of these bonds matured In 1924, but were extinguished 



S86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

at a much earlier date, together with the School Fund. 
The Hawes Electric Company installed the poles and wires. 
The Natick Gas and Electric Company succeeded the 
Eliot Falls Electric Light Company, and In 1898 the con- 
tract with the former was renewed for five years, but in 
1899 it was sublet to the Greendale Chemical and Electric 
Lighting Company, which in 1903 transferred its rights to the 
Edison Electric Illuminating Company. The price per light 
was then to be $10 annually. In February, 1908, the select- 
men and a committee of the town sold the poles and wires 
to the last-named company for $11,000, and made a con- 
tract with that company for twenty years, current and 
material to be furnished to the town at $12 for each street 
light per year, and all of the expense of maintenance to be 
assumed by the company. This contract went into effect 
on September i, 1908. The street lighting plant was re- 
peatedly extended prior to 1908, and the annual cost doubled 
in ten years. In 1910 $8000 were appropriated for lighting 
the streets. In March, 1902, the town voted to light the 
dials of the clock on the Baptist Church, and a few years 
later a light was also established in the cupola of the town 
hall, which illuminated the town clock and served as a 
beacon seen for a long distance. About 1903 a Gas Lighting 
Company was formed In Needham, but without result. 



TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES 

The first reference in the town records to a telegraph 
line is the vote of March 16, 1868, directing the selectmen 
to give a hearing on the petition of the Franklin Telegraphic 
Company, with notice to all persons who may be interested 
in the kind, height and location of the "Posts". 

The later history of the location of hundreds of telegraph 
and telephone poles in Needham, with the consequent dis- 
figurement of the landscape, roadsides and trees, is similar 
to that of other towns. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 587 

PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS 

The Common on the Great Plain contains 65,135 square 
feet of land, and was purchased In 1884 of George P. Davis 
for $2850. In Its eastern corner there was a fine, large 
natural basin, similar to the one on the estate now owned 
by Charles D. Burrage. This basin was used as a dump 
in the eighties, and was finally filled, such features not being 
appreciated in those days. The town hall covers a portion 
of the site of it. The Common at Needham Heights con- 
tains 18,096 square feet, and was bought in 1884 of Isaac 
T. Burr for $650. It has been made beautiful by the local 
Improvement Society, with the assistance of individuals. 
The triangle known as Dedham Avenue Park was given 
to the town by individuals, and accepted by vote on March 
3, 1890. In 1897 three Custodians of Public Grounds were 
chosen, and in March, 1898, it was voted to elect three 
Park Commissioners in 1899. On March 7, 1904, four and 
one half acres bought In 1871 of James Wallace Black were 
declared a park. This land is on South Street, near Green 
Street, and was originally acquired for the gravel. In 1907 
the town owned three gravel pits : — Alden, on Webster 
Street, Richardson, near Rosemary Brook on the east side 
of Central Avenue, north of West Street, and the Ireland 
land on the Great Plain, north of the terminus of Pickering 
Street. The Thorpe Memorial Park was presented to the 
town by Joseph B. Thorpe in a letter dated February 11, 
191 1, and is in memory of his daughter, Sarah Bessie Thorpe, 
who died in Berlin, Prussia, January 13, 1908, while a 
student there. The gift was accepted by the town on March 
6th. It is bounded by Hunnewell, Webster and West 
Streets. From 1902 the citizens have annually been assessed 
on account of the Metropolitan Park system, although they 
derive but little direct benefit from the reservations. For 
some years the amount was about $1600, but in 1907 it 
was $2000, and has since increased. In connection with 



588 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

this park system Needham was assessed $37.78 in 1906 for 
the Wellington Avenue Bridge, which is north of Boston. 
The Commonwealth allows $50 per mile each year for the 
repair of State roads, and the excess of this expended in 
any town is assessed upon it. Needham has annually had 
a small sum from this source in its tax levy, but it has never 
yet exceeded $50 in any one year. In 1910 $350 were ap- 
propriated for the care of the parks. 



MASONIC 

Among Dr. Noyes's papers was an undated list of the 
Needham Masons, apparently written in the thirties. The 
Masons then were: — Jonathan Ellis, Jonathan Newell, 
George W. Johnson, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Lemuel Lyon, 
Moses Mann, John Tolman, Paul Dewing, Asa Kingsbery, 
Daniel Kingsbery, Ebenezer M'^Intosh, Rufus Mills, Is- 
rael Whitney, Jabez Morse, William A. Kingsbury, William 
Eaton, Jr., Royal M°Intosh, Charles Rice, Otis Jennings, 
Leonard Kingsbury, Timothy Bullard, Timothy Wood- 
cock, Luther Smith, James Smith, Luther Ware, Daniel 
Ware, Alvin Fuller, Peter Lyon, Esq., George W. Hoogs, 
Stephen Hurd, (illegible) Lyon, Henry Bartlett, Isaac 
Felton, John M^Farland, Ellis Stedman, Thomas P. Weston, 
Nathaniel Craft, Tyler Pettee, John Kingsbury, Richard 
Boynton and Ebenezer Fuller. Most of these men, perhaps 
all of them, were members of Meridian Lodge, which met 
in Sargent's Tavern, and which later removed to Natick. 

NORFOLK LODGE 

Norfolk Lodge is named for Thomas Howard, Eighth 
Duke of Norfolk, who was Grand Master of the English 
Masons in 1730 and 173 1, and one of the few Masons of 
this Catholic house. This lodge includes most of the promi- 
nent citizens of Needham, and has an important part in the 
life of the town. The history of its origin is as follows: — 
On the evening of April 6, 1874, a number of Masons resid- 
ing in Needham met together to take the necessary steps 



S90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

for the formation of a lodge, and a petition was sent to the 
Grand Lodge, upon which a dispensation was granted in 
the organization of a lodge, and officers were appointed, 
Emery Grover being named as Master. The first regular 
communication was held in Odd Fellows Hall, in Parker 
Hall, on Monday evening. May 25, 1874. The lodge con- 
tinued to hold regular communications for a year, and on 
July I, 1875, a special communication was called for the 
purpose of receiving the charter, and in order to be formally 
constituted. On this occasion Grand Master Perclval 
Lowell Everett and other officers and members of the Grand 
Lodge were present, and the charter has the date of May 18, 
1874, and bears twenty-eight names, headed by that of 
Emery Grover, the first Master of this lodge. The lodge 
has twice lost by fire all of its property, except the charter 
and records. The first fire was in May, 1882, when Parker 
Hall was burned, on which occasion Isaac R. Stearns and 
others risked their lives to save the charter and records of 
Norfolk Lodge, and the second fire was that which consumed 
the Odd Fellows Building in May, 1887. The meetings have 
since been held in rooms especially fitted for the purpose 
in Kingsbury Block. In 1908 this lodge numbered nearly 
two hundred members. 

The beautiful seal of this lodge is a reproduction of the 
coat-of-arms of the Duke of Norfolk in whose honor it was 
named, and for years attempts have been made to discover 
some likeness of this duke, but none appears to be in exist- 
ence. The writer was at one time Interested in this matter 
and had assistance In England, but no portrait was found 
in any of the collections, or great libraries, and none of the 
numerous representatives of the Howards, including five 
peers, apparently knew of any such portrait. 

In December, 1909, Charles Dana Burrage of Needham 
was chosen Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch 
Chapter and in December, 191 1, was elected for the 
third time. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 591 

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS 

Eliot Lodge Number 58 was Instituted at Newton Upper 
Falls on January 30, 1845, but on May 22 of that year 
the charter was surrendered, and there was no serious at- 
tempt to revive it till 1869. The charter was again taken 
up on February 25, 1870, and when first instituted the 
lodge met every Wednesday evening in the Parker Building, 
it then met from 1874 to 1887 in the Odd Fellows Building, 
where it lost all of its property by the burning of the building 
on the night of May 12 and 13, 1887. After the fire it held 
its meetings for years in the Masonic Hall, Kingsbury 
Block, and then removed to Needham Heights, where it 
meets in Highland Hall. Within two years of the fire the 
lodge purchased a fine paraphernalia. 

The meetings have been held on Tuesday evenings for 
a long time, but at different periods on Thursday evenings. 
In 1890 there were about fifty members, and on December 
31, 1910, there were one hundred and four, which in March, 
191 1, had increased to one hundred and fifteen. 

Sincerity Lodge Number 173 of Wellesley and Home 
Lodge of Newton Upper Falls, both of which are prosperous, 
were originated by former members of Eliot Lodge. Sincer- 
ity Lodge was organized on August 9, 1875, and at first met 
every Monday evening in Waban Hall. In 1908 it had a 
membership of upward of one hundred, and had a hall 
especially adapted to its uses in Shattuck's Building. 

OTHER SOCIETIES AND ORDERS 

Nehoiden Lodge Number 624 Knights of Honor was 
opened on May 17, 1877, and in 1889 had over forty mem- 
bers. For years this lodge met in the Odd Fellows Hall 
on alternate Wednesday evenings. In 1904 the members 
united with King Philip Lodge at Natick and Nehoiden 
Lodge ceased to exist. 



592 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The Ancient Order of United Workmen, Needham Lodge 
Number 75, was organized January 3, 1887, and had eigh- 
teen members in 1889. The meetings were semi-monthly 
on Friday evenings in Masonic Hall. The membership 
reached two hundred on December 29, 1908. 

The United Order of the Golden Cross, Needham Com- 
mandery Number 327, was organized on November 17, 
1887, and in 1908 had ninety-nine members, and met the 
first and third Mondays of each month in the Masonic 
Hall, Kingsbury Block. 

The Improved Order of Redmen was organized in Need- 
ham on March 26, 1892, and lasted about two years, meet- 
ing semi-monthly on Wednesday evenings in Masonic Hall. 
Saint Elmo Council of the Royal Arcanum was Instituted 
on March 4, 1896, and met semi-monthly on Wednesday 
evenings in Masonic Hall till it removed to Needham 
Heights, then HIghlandvIlle. There were fifty members 
of this Council in 1908. 

The United Order of the Golden Star has been represented 
in Needham since July 8, 1900, by Rosemary Commandery 
Number 10, which has met the first and third Tuesdays 
of each month in the Masonic Hall, Kingsbury Block, and 
in 1908 had upward of two hundred members. 

Within the past twenty years there have been formed 
in Needham a number of mutual benefit associations, and 
other orders and societies for the purpose of insurance, or 
help in times of trouble, but most of them have never 
obtained a permanent foothold, or a considerable member- 
ship. The Anglo-American Lodge Number 75 Sons of 
Saint George, is composed of Englishmen, and their sons 
and grandsons, and was organized in Needham on Decem- 
ber 14, 188 1, and its meetings were held in Highland Hall 
once or twice a month on Wednesdays. It is a mutual 
benefit order, and those eligible to election to membership 
must be between the ages of eighteen and fifty, and are 
required to recognize the existence of a Supreme Being. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 593 

The members of Lodge Number 75 united with Garfield 
Lodge in Boston and the meetings in Highlandville ceased. 



LADIES' CHARITABLE SOCIETY 

According to Dr. Noyes's diary the "Ladies' Charitable 
Society" was organized at the "Point", on July 3, 1833, and 
another society, with the same name, in East Needham on 
July 18 which held a meeting at the house of the Rev. 
Daniel Kimball on the 31st. There seems to be nothing 
more in the Doctor's diary about the society at the "Point" 
and no one appears to know of it, but the East Needham 
Society continued for several years, perhaps more than 
ten, the members meeting once a month, sometimes oftener, 
at the homes of the principal citizens. Mrs. Noyes, and 
others whom the writer has known, were members of the 
Ladies' Charitable Society, and in 1847-9, when the Rev. 
Mr. Dall was here, the women of the First Parish had an 
organization of which Mrs. Noyes was the secretary. 
Whether this later society was a forerunner of the Ladies' 
Aid Society, or chiefly charitable, is not clear. It probably 
was the Ladies' Charitable Society previously referred to. 

NEEDHAM WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE LEAGUE 

Needham has for years been a stronghold of Woman 
Suffrage, and as early as June 12, 1873, the "Needham 
Woman Suffrage Club" was formed at the residence of Mrs. 
Eliza W. La Croix, and by the end of that year thirty- 
seven women and thirteen men had signed as members, 
assenting to its constitution and by-laws. In June, 1874, 
the first anniversary was celebrated in the grounds of the 
fine estate of Edward La Croix, which property Mr. La 
Croix had developed from a tract of woodland, and where 
he had built a spacious house. The place is now the resi- 
dence of Charles D. Burrage, and is known as "Twin Oaks". 
At this picnic of the suffragists there were two hundred 



594 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

guests, and Lucy Stone and other friends of the cause spoke. 
The writer remembers hearing William Lloyd Garrison, 
the elder, speak at this picnic, or at another one under the 
auspices of the suffragists. In 1887 the name was changed 
to League to conform to that of similar organizations, and 
has continued active to the present time. This Women's 
Suffrage League is very dear to some of the best women 
in Needham, and its foundress, Mrs. La Croix, a bright, 
cheerful woman, much given to hospitality, is affectionately 
remembered by many. This League at one time had one 
hundred members. 

NEEDHAM NATIONALIST CLUB 

The Needham Nationalist Club was another advanced 
organization, which met at a private house, once a month, 
usually on a Monday evening, from 1891 to 1893, when it 
was given up. Charles Atherton Hicks was a leader in this 
club, and it included some of the most intelligent people 
in Needham, who discussed the great economic and social 
questions of the day, and listened to papers and addresses 
by strangers. 

SOCIAL AND LITERARY UNION 

The Social and Literary Union was organized by the young 
people on January 27, 1880, although its first president, 
Charles Atherton Hicks, does not appear to have been 
elected until February 10. Early in 1881 this association 
numbered about seventy, including several from Grant- 
ville. It met at the homes of the members at least once a 
month, sometimes oftener, and the musical and literary 
programmes were excellent. Several successful entertain- 
ments in behalf of good causes were given in Parker Hall, 
and for two years the Union was most flourishing, and 
continued till about 1884. George Kuhn Clarke and Isaac 
R. Stearns were presidents, succeeding Mr. Hicks, and both 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 595 

served two terms. Mr. Stearns was for years a leader in 
the social life of the town, and was an accomplished stage- 
manager, whose services were in demand whenever an 
entertainment was contemplated. Robert E. Denfeld, 
principal of the East High School, was a prominent member 
of the Social and Literary Union, and his brother, Louis 
E. Denfeld, master of the West High School, also contributed 
to its success. Just before the Civil War there had been a 
Union Literary Association in East Needham, and this had 
divided into two distinct societies. 

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHLANDVILLE 

On November 11, 1880, several active members of the 
Methodist Church met to form a Young Men's Christian 
Association; George Clews was chosen to preside, and 
W. S. Russell acted as secretary. This was not the first 
meeting, as a committee then reported, but it is the earliest 
on record. On the 13th the Association was organized by 
the choice of Joseph B. Thorpe as president, George Clews 
vice-president, W. S. Russell secretary and Charles Thorpe 
treasurer, and these officers were continued during the 
two years that the Association was active, with the excep- 
tion of Mr. Russell, who was succeeded on October 11, 
1 88 1, by Oliver Crisp. At the meeting on November 13, 
1880, It was voted to open a reading-room and to keep it 
open each week day evening. At a meeting on the 23d 
the membership fee was fixed at a dollar, and a subscription 
list was started to raise the necessary money, some of the 
members having loaned enough to obtain supplies. The 
reading-room was opened at 6.30 P.M., on the 24th, 
Oliver Crisp In charge, and during the remainder of Novem- 
ber fifty-nine persons visited the room, the number increas- 
ing the following month to more than sixty in a single week. 
The reading-room was the same later occupied by the branch 
of the Needham Free Public Library, and was in Low's 
Block at the corner of Highland Avenue and West Street. 



596 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Nine newspapers, or magazines, had been presented by the 
members, and twelve more were subscribed for, which 
number was increased from time to time. Early in i88l 
the "boy problem" confronted the Association, and in 
May it was voted to admit none under fifteen years, and 
in October the number was limited to three each evening, 
but boys of twelve were then allowed to have admission 
tickets. In November the age limit was again made fifteen 
years. On May 27, 1882, the Association voted to accept 
the Constitution sent by the State Secretary of the Y. M. 
C. A., but on November 1 1 voted to close the reading-room 
at the end of the year. The Association was formed with a 
desire to help the young men and boys, and was continued 
for two years at much self-sacrifice on the part of the mem- 
bers, who took turns in looking after the reading-room. 
A strawberry festival was held by the Y. M. C. A. on June 
20, 1882, in the vestry of the Methodist Church, and 
one half of the net proceeds were given to the Church. 
The numerous meetings of the Association were mostly at 
private houses, but occasionally at the reading-room, and 
in the spring of 1881 two, or more, meetings were in Advent 
Christian Hall. When the Association was first formed 
there was much consideration of the project to unite with a 
society, or circulating library then in the village, or to 
establish a library, and this was not entirely abandoned 
till it came to an end. From the records it does not appear 
what was the result of an effort to have a stereopticon, pre- 
sumably for illustrated lectures. In addition to the officers, 
already mentioned, George L. Kennedy, William Humber- 
stone and William Scotton were active, and these few men 
took all of the responsibility and did the work. 

NEEDHAM IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES 

From 1883 to 1885 there was an Improvement Society, 
which accomplished something toward making the centre 
of the town attractive, and a similar organization existed 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 597 

in the late nineties. There is a vigorous society at Needham 
Heights, until lately Highlandville, dating from 1893, which 
has done much to promote "Village Improvement". 

CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC CIRCLE 

Vincent Circle of the Chautauqua was formed in Need- 
ham on August 18, 1884, and held its last recorded meet- 
ing on June 2, 1890. The class was usually about twenty- 
five, and the courses outlined were faithfully pursued, the 
members meeting alternate weeks at private houses to 
answer the roll-calls, and to read choice selections from 
literature. In 1889 a study of Concord, and of the writers 
whose residence in that town has made it famous, was a 
feature. Some persons continued their connection with 
Vincent Circle for six years, others took only a portion of 
the subjects, and a number of the students were present 
at Lake View on July 18, 1888, when they received diplomas. 

THE TEA AND TOAST CLUB 

The Tea and Toast Club was formed in 1886 and met at 
the houses of its members once a month during the entire 
year. This club was of a literary character, and consisted 
of sixteen ladies, whose annual party, designated "Gentle- 
men's Night", was a social event at which on one or more 
occasions every man entitled to attend was present. This 
somewhat exclusive club was active till about 1900, and is 
in existence in 191 1. 

MONDAY CLUB 

The Monday Club was organized in October, 1899, and 
has met alternate Mondays from October to May, inclusive, 
at the homes of the members, no meeting having been post- 
poned, or lacking a quorum, in twelve years. The member- 
ship consists of thirty-four ladies, and there has been a 
waiting list. The purpose of the club was the study of 



598 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

literature, but since joining the State Federation of Women's 
Clubs in 1904, the scope has been much enlarged, and the 
consideration of public questions included. One or more 
essays prepared by members are read at each meeting, 
usually presenting the result of the writer's study of an 
author, or of some foreign land, or relating to art, or to an 
economic or social question. Reports from the State Feder- 
ation, and extracts from current publications touching 
matters of public interest are also read. 

UNITARIAN CLUB 

The Unitarian Club was formed in February, 1905, and 
is connected with the First Parish, meeting in its vestry, 
and contributing to its expenses. This club had a member- 
ship of over sixty in 1908, and meets once a month from 
October to June. The meetings are given to sociability, 
and to listening to papers on various themes, as well as to 
general discussion. The Unitarian Club has a series of 
dances each winter, and occasionally has a dramatic enter- 
tainment. In some particulars this club is the successor 
of the Unity Club, which was organized about ten years 
earlier under the auspices of the First Parish, but as a non- 
sectarian literary society. For some reason the Unity 
Club barely survived four seasons, although the papers 
read before it were exceptionally good, and while the Uni- 
tarians were in the majority. Deacon Sutton of the First 
Baptist Church was at one time the president, and the non- 
sectarian character was carefully preserved. The name, 
intended to signify brotherhood and fellowship, appears 
to have been regarded with suspicion in certain quarters. 
Why the Unity Club failed and the Men's League succeeded 
is an interesting question, as in a general way the resem- 
blance is marked. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 599 

NEW CENTURY CLUB 

On May 5, 1909, three hundred ladies met in Bourne 
Hall to form a New Century Club, and that day one hundred 
and thirty-five paid the admission fee of two dollars. Mrs. 
Edith B. Greeley was chosen president, and Isabelle P. 
Boyd secretary. There had been elaborate preparation 
for this event, and prominent representatives of the Federa- 
tion of Women's Clubs were present and made addresses. 
By the first of December the number of members had in- 
creased to two hundred and ten. 



ALBION CRICKET CLUB 

Needham has had good teams that have made creditable 
records in base ball, foot ball and other sports, but its 
cricket players have given the town its chief prominence 
in athletics. The Albion Cricket Club existed from 1867 
to 1897, with occasional periods of inactivity, and some of 
its members were noted wherever there was interest in 
this game. James Dring had been a skilful player in Eng- 
land, as had William Gorse and Thomas Beach. 

Among other players entitled to mention, as prominent 
more than thirty years ago, are Thomas and Stephen Lester, 
Robert Bennett, Charles Banner, the latter an expert 
bowler, now living in California. Many of these men were 
excellent cricketers when past middle life, and never lost 
their fondness for this game. 

The four Thorpe brothers, John, Thomas, Joseph B. and 
Charles, were all actively interested in cricket, and played 
well. Charles was remarkable, considering that he had 
but one hand, and often made many runs. During two 
active seasons this club never met defeat. Their grounds 
were first on the Kimball estate, on the north side of Great 
Plain Avenue, then they had the field opposite the Avery 
School, later George Otis Kingsbury's field, and finally 



6oo THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

land on High Street, where they had a club house. Many 
seasons have brought laurels to the Needham cricket players, 
which in some years have been gained in the Dominion of 
Canada, as well as in the States, and in 1908 with half of 
the cricket season over the players from Needham Heights 
were "still in the lead for the season's honors", and at the 
close ranked as third. This prominence was in spite of the 
fact that there were one, or more, contesting clubs that con- 
tained "imported material". In the latter year the name 
of Frank W. Gorse appears among the "bowling stars". 

ORGANIZATIONS FOR AMUSEMENT 

For forty years, or more, Needham has been rich In 
amateur actors, some of whom excelled, and there have been 
a succession of dramatic clubs, as well as tennis clubs, a 
Rod and Gun Club, and various "teams" devoted to 
sports. The drama received a great impetus during the 
seventies and early eighties from the presence In town of 
Isaac R. Stearns, and, before Needham became suburban, 
a play excited much interest, and a large attendance was 
assured. 

In 1901 a Golf Club was formed, and the grounds of the 
town water reservation, formerly the Colburn farm, were 
secured. This attractive territory of about forty acres 
commands fine distant views, and seemed an ideal place 
for golf, and for two years the club flourished, although 
it never had one hundred members, and twice that number 
were necessary if the grounds were to be kept in good order. 
During two winters the club had a series of dances, and in 
the pleasant season many enjoyed the golf. Early in 1903 
it became evident that there were not enough persons who 
had leisure for the game, and were ready to pay assess- 
ments sufficient to warrant incurring considerable expense, 
and consequently the grounds soon became unfit, and the 
construction of the railroad through this land in 1905 has 
rendered a revival of this club impracticable. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 60 1 

TEMPERANCE AND TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES 

On May 4, 1829, which was before the Temperance Society 
was formed, the town voted "to put the law in force re- 
specting Idlers and tavern hanters", and the next spring 
decreed that the surveyors of highways "Should provide 
no Splritous liquers, at the expense of the town in working 
out their highway taxes". In 1837 Mr. Kimball, William 
Flagg, William Clark, Leonard Battle (Battelle) and Josiah 
B. Lyon were a committee of the town to "put in force the 
licence law against all those who violate the Same." In 
1845 Capt. Reuben Ware made an attempt to have the town 
"prevent the sale of Intoxicating drink in town, the ensuing 
year", but the article was dismissed. In 1854 the town in- 
structed its selectmen to enforce the "Liquor Law", but be- 
came much dissatisfied with the official "Liquor Agent", and 
the "adulterated articles" with which he had been supplied.^ 

In 1870 the town voted that "no person shall be allowed 
to sell Ale, Porter, Strong beer, or Lager beer in this Town". 
A similar vote was passed the next year by 48 to 4. In 1882 
the town voted 105 to 87 In favor of licensing the sale of 
intoxicating liquor, and in 1884 by 159 to 108, but for many 
years the vote has been largely against it. 

The first Temperance meeting In Needham was held in 
the West Meeting-house on January 3, 1828. The Needham 
Temperance Society was formed on April 8, 1830, as the 
result of a largely attended meeting held at the almshouse 
one week before. The officers for 183 1 were the Rev. Daniel 
Kimball president, Benjamin Slack, Esq., vice-president. 
Dr. Josiah Noyes secretary, Moses Garfield, Jonathan 
Ellis, Dea. Hezekiah Fuller, William A. Kingsbury and 
Isaiah FIsk directors. It was the custom of the society to 
observe Independence Day, and on July 5, 1830, the Rev. 
Mr. Kimball gave an address in the First Church. This 
patriotic meeting was devoted in part to the subject of 

' Dexter Kingsbury was the Liquor Agent for 1862-5, Isaac Clapp 1867. 



6o2 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

temperance, and Mr. Kimball's address was printed that 
year by H. & W. H. Mann, printers of Dedham, and is a 
pamphlet of sixteen pages. In 183 1 the constitution and 
names of the members of the society appeared in a pamphlet 
of seven pages, printed by the Politician & Advocate Press 
of Dedham. The by-laws consisted of eight articles, and 
seventy-four men and one hundred and thirty-five women, 
mostly of the West Parish, belonged to the Temperance 
Society. Besides the regular quarterly meetings there 
were temperance lectures, and on January 20, 1834, a Tem- 
perance Convention was held at the house of Mr. Kimball. 
Needham was prominently represented by delegates in 
the Norfolk County Temperance Society, and Mr. Kimball 
and Dr. Noyes contended incessantly against the evil which 
was much in evidence in Needham, as in hundreds of other 
towns, but the society was several years old before the 
First Parish ceased to supply its choir with liquor, and 
no funeral or auction was then complete without it. The 
expenditures by the town for spirit and sugar when the 
poor were auctioned off at the tavern each November had 
ended, as the town had acquired an almshouse, but drink 
was furnished by the town at the burials of its charges. In 
1 8 14 the town could not repair the little Sawmill Bridge, 
or do any work, without "spirit and Sugar". About 1840 
the Washingtonian movement reached Needham, and 
there were mass meetings, with much enthusiasm, resulting 
in a great reformation. At a meeting held in the First 
Church, a banner, the gift of Mr. Moses Kimball, was for- 
mally presented to the local Temperance Society by Adelaide 
Phillips, then a little girl, who stood on one of the window 
seats, that all might see her. There were picnics and con- 
certs, and Edgar K. Whitaker of Needham and the Rev. 
Edwin Thompson, a Unlversalist minister of Walpole, 
were active in the cause in our town.^ On December 19, 

^ While the Washingtonian crusade was at its height a large number signed the 
pledge, including the late Jeremiah Kingsbury, who lived where Mrs. Arthur 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 603 

1857, the Nehoiden Division Sons of Temperance Number 
15 was organized by William N. Eayrs, and is in 191 1 one 
of the oldest temperance societies in Massachusetts. It 
originally met in Nehoiden Hall, at the old Centre, and 
since October 3, 1867, in Highland Hall, above the store 
at Needham Heights.^ 

About 1883 the meetings were held in the vestry of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve charter mem- 
bers but two are now living in Needham: — Cyrus W. 
Jones and John E. Richards. The Division has had over 
two thousand members, and they are now scattered through 
twenty States. Its fiftieth anniversary was appropriately 
observed, and Messrs. Jones and Richards were present. 
Early in 1858 Mr. Eayrs formed the juvenile Nehoiden 
Band of Hope, which had picnics and concerts, besides 
regular meetings in Nehoiden Hall. The Band flourished 
for about five years, when Mr. Eayrs left town. In 1866 the 
Union Temperance Band was organized, and consisted of 
the Unitarian, Baptist, Orthodox and Methodist Sunday 
Schools. The Band has met the third Sundays of January, 



Whitaker now (191 1) resides. Mr. Kingsbury was brought into the hall to sign 
by his neighbor "Deacon" Newell Smith. Some will recall the peculiarities of the 
old blacksmith, Isaac H. Greenwood, who had a defect in his palate, and almost 
invariably began a remark with the appropriate words "toe te toe". Mr. Kings- 
bury had a similar eccentricity, and as he left the hall with Mr. Smith he said, 
"Fact fact Deacon we will have a little toddy in haying time". 

1 Nehoiden Hall was built in 1844 by George Revere, who from 1830 to 1870 
lived where George Kuhn Clarke does, and it was a large hall with a store, kept 
by Mr. Revere, beneath it. In this hall many dances and festivals were held, as 
well as political and Civil War meetings, including those connected with recruiting. 
Enlistments took place under the old oak to the south, which with its companion 
tree, the Greenwood oak, antedates the town. 

In 1869 Jonathan Avery bought the building and made it into tenements, and 
in 1906 the estate was purchased by Miss Martha Anna Clarke, and the Nehoiden 
Block removed by William Carter to the "Sand Hole" on Rosemary Street, where 
Mr. Carter had other property. 

Mr. Cyrus W. Jones has an extensive collection of programmes, circulars, etc., 
and among them is one that reads as follows: — 

"Social Ball | Nehoiden Hall | East Needham | Friday Evening, March 7, 1845 | 

Dancing to commence at 7 o'clock | Tickets $1.50 including refreshments"] 

The managers were Edgar K. Whitaker, Galen Orr, Moses Mann, Rufus Mills, 

Charles Curtis and Josiah H. Carter. Music by Moses Mann, Eben Flagg and 

Artemas Newell. 



6o4 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

April, July and October, once a year in each of the four 
churches, and its meetings have been largely attended, with 
fine music and able addresses. For many years the Union 
Temperance Band has influenced the young people for good, 
and its banner is inscribed "Temperance the Handmaid of 
Religion". In 1895 the Episcopal Sunday School was 
invited to join, and for a time some of its members at- 
tended meetings of the Band. The Union Temperance 
Band is considered as a continuation of the Nehoiden Band 
of Hope, and consequently was fifty years old in 1908. 

In the early seventies there was Autumn Lodge Number 
94, Independent Order of Good Templars, which met every 
Friday evening in Waban Hall. High Rock Lodge Number 
47, I. 0. of G. T., was organized about the same time, and 
met every Tuesday evening in the Parker Building, then 
sometimes called the Greenwood & White Building, or 
White's Building. Later its meetings were in the Odd 
Fellows Building, but the lodge lasted only a few years. 

On November 17, 1879, Social Lodge Number 8, 1. O. G.T., 
was chartered, and lasted about six years, meeting Thursday 
evenings in Odd Fellows Hall. Hillside Lodge Number 
116, I. O. G. T., was organized, and met In Highland Hall 
Tuesdays. Crystal Wave Lodge Number 152, I. O. G. T., 
was chartered on November 21, 1894, and was a success 
for a number of years, its membership increasing from 
twenty-nine to seventy. The meetings were held in the 
Baptist vestry and later in the chapel of the First 
Church. 

In 1876 a Temperance Reform Club was formed, and 
May 22 one hundred and nineteen signed the pledge in 
Parker Hall. On June 8 the club had a torchlight proces- 
sion, and on the i6th two banners were presented to it in 
Parker Hall. The leaders were D. Banks M^'Kenzie and 
the Rev. Louis Charpiot, who were connected with the 
Appleton Temporary Home for Inebriates, which institu- 
tion occupied for about ten years, 1872-81, the estate on 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 605 

which previously had been the Oakland Hall Institute. 
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union dates from May 
28, 1886, and in 1904 had forty-two regular members and 
twenty-one honorary. The Union held its early meetings 
in the First Parish Church, but in later years met at the 
residence of Dr. Vesta D. Miller, who was president from 
its formation until her decease. In 1888 the Union or- 
ganized a Loyal Legion, juvenile, at Highlandville, which did 
good work for ten years, also a Loyal Legion on the Great 
Plain, and this was a success for two or three years. Both 
of these Legions had large memberships, and they flourished 
as long as the women who were their leaders could give the 
needed time. In February, 1903, a branch of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union was formed at Highlandville, 
and from about 1893 to 1895 there had been a Young 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union In that village. 

The History of Needham would be incomplete without 
some reference to Dr. Vesta Delphine Miller, who was de- 
voted to many good causes, particularly to that of Temper- 
ance. For more than thirty years she practiced medicine, 
and was skilful, faithful and self-sacrificing, often in emer- 
gencies acting as nurse for many hours at a time, regardless 
of her own health. Many families depended upon her as 
their physician and friend, and her comparatively sudden 
death on February 23, 1908, caused sorrow In numerous 
homes. Her funeral was on the afternoon of the 25th, and 
was largely attended, the Rev. Charles E. Sawtelle and the 
Rev. Robert L. Webb officiating. Mrs. Miller brought 
comfort and hope not only to many, who recovered from 
illness, but to others who could not, and no one was more 
sincerely esteemed than she was. She received the degree 
of M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
Boston, but had previously studied at the New England 
Female Medical College, 1865, and at the Cincinnati Medi- 
cal College. Subsequent to obtaining her degree she at- 
tended the New York Post-Graduate Medical School. 



6o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

NEEDHAM LYCEUM 

The following Is from some loose sheets in a note book 
of Dr. Joslah Noyes: 

Needham Jan. 7th 1831. People from various parts of 
the town of Needham met at the Alms-house to consider 
the nature, purposes and objects of Lyceums; and deter- 
mine whether it would be expedient to form an institution 
of this kind — if deemed expedient, what measures were best 
to establish one and bring it into successful operation. — To 
regulate the meeting they chose Moses Garfield — Moderator 
Josiah Noyes — Clerk — 

Copious remarks were made at this meeting, a consti- 
tution read &c — It was thought best to defer transacting 
much business till a subsequent meeting that more might 
be present. Accordingly Voted, that the meeting be ad- 
journed to Friday Jan, 14th, 6 o'clock, P. M. at the Alms- 
house — and that notice thereof be given from the several 
pulpits in town on the Sabbath, Jan. 9th. Meeting ad- 
journed — 

Josiah Noyes Clerk at s^ meeting 

Adjourned meeting Jan. 14th 183 1 

After reading several Constitutions of Lyceums and the 
Constitution of the Working Men's Society of Dedham the 
proceedings of the Meeting for forming a Work Men's 
Society for Needham, — considering the expediency of 
having one Society or two in the town, — comparing the 
natures objects and uses of each and both conjointly — 
It was thought best to have but one Society for the town to 
accomplish the objects of both — According — it was — 
Voted that a Committee be chosen to form a Constitution 
and determine the name of the Society made up of the two 
aforenamed. Voted that the Committee of twelve appointed 
at the meeting for forming a Working Men's Society be 
this Committee. (See their names below) — 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 607 

Voted that this meeting be dissolved 

J. Noyes Clerk of s. adjourned meeting — 
Moses Garfield 
Charles Rice 
Reuben Ware 
Spencer Fuller 

William Flagg a*" Committee to meet at the Alms-house 
William Eaton, Jr — Wed, Jan, 26, at 6 o'clock. 
Israel Whitney 
Amraphel Smith 

Josiah Noyes 

Ebenezer W. Mslntosh Committee appointed at the meet- 
Daniel Kimball ing to form a Working Men's 

Rufus Mills Society, to form a Constitution 

The Lyceum was of great educational value to Needham, 
as it was throughout rural New England, but in our town 
it did not survive the Civil War. The meetings were usually 
held semi-monthly during the winter, either in a school- 
house or at the almshouse. These different places of meet- 
ing gave all sections of the town opportunities to attend, 
and there were courses of lectures by Dr. Noyes on chemistry, 
by the Rev. Daniel Kimball on local history and other 
topics, and instructive subjects were treated by out-of- 
town speakers, some of them from a distance. Although 
Dr. Noyes refers in his diary to a "Debating Society", 
which met at Myrick's Tavern in the winter of 1834, ^ feature 
of the Needham Lyceum was the discussion of questions 
such as "Civilization", "Books and observation", "Colum- 
bus and Washington", "War or reference of nations", 
"Capital Punishment", "Superiority of intellect in man or 
woman", the "Bank Question" and "Slavery", each of 
these two great issues requiring more than one meeting, 
"Levelling System", "Wealth and Knowledge", etc. Dr. 
Noyes was much interested in the Dover Lyceum, which was 
organized the same year as the one in Needham, and lee- 



6o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

tured before it on chemistry, illustrating by experiments. 
Presumably the lectures given by Dr. Noyes in Needham, 
Natick and other places were similar. The Dover Lyceum 
sometimes met in Noanet Hall, or Newell's Hall, which was 
just across the river, and was the meeting place of various 
organizations. In the winter of 1841/2 the Rev. Daniel 
Kimball gave a series of lectures on local history, which are 
valuable, particularly those relating to the oldest houses in 
town, many of which have since disappeared. Mr. Kim- 
ball's manuscript, or a copy of it, was in the possession of 
the late Charles C. Greenwood. 

A programme of the "Closing Exercises" of the Needham 
Lyceum on April 2, i860, includes an address by its pres- 
ident, the Honorable Edgar K. Whitaker, and various 
literary features. The meeting was to be held at Village 
Hall, at 7I o'clock "precisely", and the directors were 
Otis E. Bowen, Augustus Eaton and Charles E. Keith. 

NEWTON, NEEDHAM AND NATICK SOCIETY FOR APPREHENDING 
HORSE THIEVES 

This society was formed at Charles Denny's tavern 
on April 19, 1822, with Benjamin Slack as moderator and 
John W. Slack as clerk. On May 3 they met at the same 
place, adopted a constitution, which was printed, and at an 
adjourned meeting, on June nth, Ebenezer Starr was 
chosen president, John W. Slack clerk, and five directors 
and seven riders were also elected. The earlier meetings 
were held in the afternoon, but the annual supper soon 
became the principal feature of the society, and involved 
small assessments. The notices of the meetings were 
addressed to the clerk and signed by the president and vice- 
president. There were about fifty members, and after the 
first year the number of directors was increased to seven, 
and some years as many as ten riders were chosen. On 
April 8, 1835, they had a supper at Nathan F. Crafts's 
and then disbanded. The funds were divided among the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 609 

twenty-nine members then In good standing, which gave 
them $2.86 each. Their records were by vote deposited in 
the office of the town clerk, who was also clerk of the society, 
and have remained there to this day. The president suc- 
ceeding Mr. Starr was Benjamin Slack, 1826-32. In 1833 
the time of the annual meeting was changed from June to 
January, and Henry Crafts was chosen president and served 
two years, when William Farris became the last president 
of this society, with Seth Davis as vice-president. The 
second clerk was John Sargent, the tavern-keeper in Welles- 
ley Hills, who was in office 1824-6. John W. Slack was 
again clerk in 1826-32, Miciah ^ M. Rutter 1832, Town 
Clerk Asa Kingsbery ^ 1833- . 

NEEDHAM YOUNG PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION 

The Needham Young People's Association is the result 
of a meeting held in the library rooms at the town hall on 
June I, 1910, for the purpose of forming a Boys' Club, and 
in the autumn of that year Bourne Hall was transformed 
into a gymnasium, which is now (191 1) well equipped. 
Classes in athletics, for boys and girls, are conducted by 
competent teachers, and this gymnasium is an important 
institution, furnishing a headquarters for the young people, 
and providing them with varied resources and amusements. 
Louis A. Holman has directed this work with untiring 
devotion and with no pecuniary compensation. 

AGRICULTURAL AND KINDRED SOCIETIES 

Residents of Needham were active in the old Norfolk 
Agricultural Society, as some are to-day in Middlesex and 
Norfolk Pomona Grange Number i. Patrons of Husbandry 
of Massachusetts. On April 30, i860, there was a meeting 
in Village Hall to form the Needham Horticultural Society, 

* The reader is reminded that in this book names are spelled as found in the 
records. 



6io THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

on which occasion Edgar K. Whitaker was chairman and 
George W. Palmer secretary. The organization was per- 
fected on May 7, when the constitution was adopted, and 
the objects of the Society are therein declared to be "the 
promotion of Horticulture, and incidentally Agriculture, 
Floriculture, and general Improvements". Mr. Whitaker 
was elected president, Holland N. Batcheller secretary and 
Charles E. Keith ist vice-president, and these gentlemen 
were re-elected annually until the society ceased to keep 
records. They took as their motto "Labor omnia vincit", 
and during the first year held nine public meetings, besides 
their elaborate exhibition on the evenings of September 
24 and 25, when there was a display of fine fruits, beauti- 
ful flowers, and specimens of women's skill in artistic direc- 
tions. There were seventy-six contributors to this exhibi- 
tion, some of them offering several samples of fruit and 
flowers, and the list is interesting as it gives the names of 
the difi^erent varieties of apples, pears, grapes, and numerous 
vegetables, then esteemed most choice. The women made 
these occasions a success, and a brief list illustrating their 
ambitions in the line of fancy work at that time may be of 
interest: — Miss Jane Avery (now Mrs. Carter) "i Picture 
of a Rose — in water colors" "i Crayon Head". Miss 
Harriet E. Sawyer "i Beautiful Fruit Picture, in Water 
Colors". Picture frames decorated with corn, cones and 
"Leather Work" were in fashion, as well as frames of 
hair. Miss Harriet E. Kingsbury brought, among other 
articles, "i Ottoman of Raised Worsted Work", and some 
bead work. Similar contributions were received from others. 
Mrs. F. F. Stedman "Hair Work, elegantly framed" "2 
Embroidered Vests". Miss Myra Smith (Mrs. Greenwood) 
" I Beautiful Wax-work Bouquet of Flowers in a Glass 
Case". Miss Sarah C. Mills (Mrs. Cutter) "i What- 
Not, Elegantly Wrought in Leather". Mrs. Noyes excelled 
in decorating picture frames with cones and "Burrs", 
and really beautiful specimens of her work are preserved 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 6ii 

at her former home. Most of the ladies were not content 
with one or two samples of handiwork, but presented a 
number, "Wrought" slippers and suspenders were also a 
source of honorable pride. In the very long list of vege- 
tables and flowers are included "3 Mammoth Squashes, 96, 
98 and 105 lbs", sent by James Cartwright, "125 Varieties 
of Cut Flowers, rare and beautiful" from James Gray of 
West Needham, vegetables from the Oakland Hall Institute, 
and flowers from the "Young Ladies of Oakland Hall 
Institute". Henry H. White (Wight?) exhibited "i Chess 
Board, inlaid with 94 pieces of wood", and Charles E. 
Keith "i Sample Double Sole Nailed Miners' Shoes", and 
"Plough Shoes" and "Hunters Shoes". The profusion of 
this display of flowers and vegetables was remarkable and 
on lesser occasions there had been beautiful exhibits. Mrs. 
Ebenezer Whiting Mcintosh had rare flowers, and brought to 
one of the meetings "a dish of asters containing twenty five 
varieties". The same evening Master Channing Whitaker 
exhibited a "Cabbage Rose Measuring T[h]ree feet and five 
inches in diameter", and "last and least a small vase 
standing upon the north west Corner of the tables presented 
by Mr. Keith, admired for its humble symplicity". Many 
visitors attended the public exhibition, and the society was 
active in setting out shade trees, visiting noted farms and 
orchards, such as the pear orchard of John Gordon in Brigh- 
ton, and had every prospect of usefulness when the Civil 
War came, which absorbed the attention of all, with the 
result that the society adjourned sine die on the first Mon- 
day of October, 1862, and the records came to an end. The 
previous June they had voted "to have no Strawberry festi- 
val this year". Besides lectures, the society had planned 
for general improvement in the cultivation of fruits and 
flowers, and proposed to stimulate competition by prizes. 
George W. Palmer, an active member, was the proprietor 
of the "Needham Plain Nursery", and had his first annual 
sale of trees in 1861. During the first fourteen months of 



6i2 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

its existence the society had had a lecture on botany from 
Dr. Noyes, which apparently was enjoyed, and Mr. Henry 
O. Hildreth of Dedham, and others from out of town, had 
addressed them. The Needham Horticultural Society 
printed a pamphlet of sixteen pages in October, i860, in 
which its purposes were set forth, and a report of its prin- 
cipal exhibition followed. There were then sixty-one regular 
members and twenty-two honorary members. 

NEEDHAM FARMERS AND MECHANICS ASSOCIATION 

The Needham Farmers and Mechanics Association was 
organized in the autumn of 1877, largely through the 
efforts of Abel F. Stevens of Wellesley, who was its first 
president and served three years. For two seasons Agri- 
cultural Fairs were held in Parker Hall, the animals exhibited 
occupying temporary quarters in the square at the north of 
the hall, and in the yard of Eaton's stable. At these fairs 
there were many interesting exhibits from Needham, and 
adjoining towns, showing that the enthusiasm which char- 
acterized the members of the old Horticultural Society had 
by no means died out. The women contributed to the 
success of these fairs, and their work in various domestic 
departments, as well as with the needle, was most cred- 
itable. The Association had seventy members in 1888, and 
about one hundred in 1908, the membership including 
residents of Needham, Wellesley, Dover, Natick and Sher- 
born. From the fall until into the spring meetings are held 
every two weeks, sometimes in a hall, but more often at a 
private house, when subjects of importance are considered, 
and speakers from out of town present topics of which they 
have special knowledge. The membership has never been 
limited to men, and for thirty years this association has 
been of great value to the community. 

In the early nineties there was a Poultry Club in town, 
and Highlandville, now Needham Heights, is well known at 
exhibits in Boston, and in more distant places, as the resi- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 613 

dence of the owners of fancy pigeons, to whom prizes are 
repeatedly awarded. There were pigeon and poultry "fan- 
ciers" in that portion of the town nearly forty years ago. 

TREES 

In 1870 the town accepted the act of the General Court 
"concerning shade and ornamental trees in Highways and 
Streets". Five years later the selectmen urged the choice 
of two Foresters, and the protection of shade trees. On 
March 5, 1900, George Warren Colburn was elected Tree 
Warden, the first in Needham, and $100 were appropriated 
for his use. Mr. Colburn was succeeded in 1908 by John E. 
Richards, and the latter in 1909 by Ernest E. Riley. In 
1910 the appropriation for the work of the tree warden was 
$700. 

Since 1880 a large oak tree on Great Plain Avenue by 
George C. Mcintosh's has been cut down, and also another 
great oak on the same avenue by land of Thomas Orr. The 
late Thomas Orr was expert in relating experiences, and 
while he was cutting down the oak a severe thunder storm 
arose, and Mr. Orr, short of limb, started for his house, which 
was struck by lightning just as he got there. He said, "I 
ran like the very devil, and the lightning struck the house 
just as I shut the door". An oak on land of John J. Morgan, 
near Nehoiden Street, and another a short distance west of 
the cemetery, on the same street, were cut down. All of 
these were large trees, but not as ancient as the Greenwood 
oak and its mate at the west end of the old Training Field. 
These two venerable trees are probably over three centuries 
old, but unfortunately the Greenwood oak, vigorous until 
about 1903, died in 1908, leafing out a little that year 
for the last time. The noon-house is said to have once stood 
close by it. The other old oak, which is directly opposite 
the driveway of the Townsend place, and since 1908 a 
part of that estate, was looking badly in 1904 when George 
Kuhn Clarke employed the tree warden to fill the decayed 



6i4 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

places with cement, remove the dead wood, and to brace 
the largest limb by means of an iron rod. After this treat- 
ment the old tree showed a remarkable revival of vigor, and 
in 1907 it was again cared for, and the brace repaired, by 
the tree warden at Mr. Clarke's expense. In 191 1 it is in 
good condition. 

The late Charles C. Greenwood collected in his grove of 
less than one acre specimens of a great number of trees and 
shrubs, and north of his house he had an artificial pond, or 
large, shallow basin, devoted to pond lilies and other aquatic 
plants. 

The canker worms never seriously damaged the orchards 
in Needham, and appeared in this town for a limited time 
only, but in 1904 it was rumoured that Gypsy and Brown- 
tail moths had been observed, and the next year about 
$174 were spent in combatting them, Ernest E. Riley having 
been appointed "Superintendent for Suppressing Gypsy 
and Brown-tail Moths". In 1906 $1693.78 were expended, 
of which the town paid $1426.03 and the property owners 
$267; in 1907 the cost was increased to $2793.44, twelve 
men drawing pay for services. In 1908 the expense was 
about $6500, of which the town appropriated $2325, the 
assessments amounted to $1637.65, and the Commonwealth 
paid the balance; nineteen men were then employed. The 
first appropriation by the town for this purpose was $800 
in 1905. The first appearance of the elm beetles in Needham, 
with serious injury to the trees, was in 1907, and that year 
and in 1908 they were a far more destructive pest than the 
moths, which latter have not, apparently, made great head- 
way in town. 



l^esiDents; of i^eebfjam tofjo fjabe Iibeb 

The names of the men and women of Needham who have 
reached the age of ninety years are as follows : — 

Ephraim Ware, March 26, 1753, aged ninety-four years. ^ 

Joseph Hawes, March 8, 1756, aged ninety-two years. 

Mary Gay, March 7, 1757, aged ninety-seven years, two 
months. 

Ebenezer Ware, 1765, aged ninety-eight years. 

Widow Deliverance Parker, March 11, 1770, aged ninety- 
nine years. 

Widow Lydia Metcalf, December 18, 1770, aged ninety- 
three years. She was the last of the original members of the 
First Church. 

Josiah Ware, July 3, 1798, aged ninety-one years. 

Eliakim Cook, August 2, 1801, aged ninety-one years. 

Widow Esther Fuller, November 6, 1801, aged ninety years. 

Jonathan Smith, June i, 1809, aged ninety-three years. 

Col. William M=Intosh, January 3, 1813, aged ninety- 
one years; born in Roxbury. 

Widow Jemima Perry, January 10, 181 5, aged ninety- 
seven years. 

Widow Grace Broad, March 18, 1821, aged ninety-one 
years. 

Widow Mary Smith, May 25, 1821, aged ninety-one years. 

Jeremiah Woodcock, March 4, 1824, aged ninety-two 
years, four months. 

Widow Rachel Smith, May 18, 1825, aged ninety years. 

* The date following the name is that of death, and all of these nonagenarians 
died in Needham unless otherwise indicated and most of them were born there. 



6i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Dinah Cato, December 27, 1830, aged ninety years. 

Widow Lois Brown, June 22, 183 1, aged one hundred 
years; if she was born on November 9, 1733, as appears to 
have been the fact, she was under ninety-eight when she 
died. 

Widow Sarah Kingsbury, February 12, 1832, aged ninety- 
four years. 

Benjamin Davenport, December 27, 1833, aged ninety-one 
years. 

Dr. Isaac Morrill, May 5, 1839, aged ninety-one years. 

Widow Abigail BuUard, August 29, 1842, aged ninety 
years. 

Widow Jemima Kingsbury, March 29, 1843, aged ninety- 
seven years, six months. 

Widow Mehitable Fisher, January 30, 1846, aged ninety- 
four years, eight months. 

Widow Hannah Gay, April 11, 1847, aged ninety years; 
died at Nashua, N. H. 

Widow Mary Wilson, November 11, 1847, aged ninety- 
seven years. 

Widow Esther Mills, September 15, 1853, aged ninety- 
seven years, four months, sixteen days.^ 

Sarah Mansfield, September 5, 1854, ^ged ninety-three 
years, eight months, twenty-four days. 

Widow Lucy Kelley, October 31, 1857, aged ninety years, 
three months. 

Samuel Pond, October 2, 1858, aged ninety-four years, 
five months, one day; born in Newton. 

Hadassah Cisco, September 24, 1864, aged ninety-six 
years, three months, two days. 

Rachel Alden, October 22, 1865, aged ninety-one years, 
five months. 

* Between 1848 and 1864 there were four persons died in Needham in their 
ninetieth year, of whom Sarah Mills, wife of Lieut. Fisher Mills, was aged eighty- 
nine years, ten months and fourteen days. She died October 9, 1857, and was born 
in Waltham. There were also three women who died in their eighty-ninth year, 
and one in her eighty-eighth. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 617 

Esther Flagg, September 11, 1866, aged ninety-two years, 
sixteen days. 

Margaret Glancy, February 21, 1869, aged ninety-six 
years; born In Ireland. 

Elijah Woodcock, April 13, 1872, aged ninety-three years, 
three months, two days. 

Lewis Jones, November 4, 1872, aged ninety-four years; 
born In Roxbury. 

Olive Colburn, January 30, 1873, aged ninety-one years, 
eleven months, three days; born In Dover. 

Henry Clark, November 3, 1873, aged ninety-two years, 
eleven months, ten days; born in Lexington. 

Betsey Bowers, October 4, 1875, aged ninety-one years, 
ten months, nineteen days; born in Pepperell. 

Sarah Nay, December 23, 1878, aged ninety- three years, 
ten months, two days; born in Canaan, N. H. 

Rachel B. Gay, May 6, 1879, aged ninety-three years, 
six months, eighteen days; born In Dover. 

Jane D. (Hunt) Lamb, June 20, 1882, aged ninety-six 
years, ten months; born In Maquolt, Me. 

Elizabeth (Fleming) Risk, September 16, 1887, aged 
ninety years, three months, seventeen days; born in Scot- 
land. 

Sarah (Clapp) Davenport, August 16, 1889, aged ninety- 
five years, four months, twenty-one days; born in Dor- 
chester. 

Mary Nixon, December 4, 1893, aged ninety-two years. 

John Henderson, March 9, 1896, aged ninety-one years, 
twenty-seven days; born in Ireland. 

Caroline Enslin Blackman, November 27, 1897, aged 
ninety-three years, nine months, nineteen days; born In 
Boston. 

William H. Beckwith, March 24, 1898, aged ninety-one 
years, seven months, eight days; born in Halifax, N. S. 

Elizabeth Klvlan Obryan, September 7, 1903, aged ninety- 
one years, one month, one day; born In Ireland, 



6i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Israel D. Woodbury, January 15, 1904, aged ninety years, 
ten months, eight days; born in North Beverly. 

William T. Eldridge, May 25, 1906, aged ninety years, 
three months, four days; born in Sharon, N. Y. 

George Hiram Gay, January 7, 1907, aged ninety-four 
years, eleven days. 

James M. Shores, April 21, 1907, aged ninety-six years, 
seventeen days; born in Canton, Conn. 

Catherine Dwyer, September 11, 1907, aged one hundred 
and two years; born in Ireland. If her age is correctly stated 
Mrs. Dwyer is the oldest person that has died in Needham. 

Enos Houghton Tucker, December 30, 1907, aged ninety- 
three years, five months, twenty-five days. 

Hannah K. Harding, March 3, 1908, aged ninety years, 
four months, nineteen days; born in Ashford, Conn. 

Allanson C. Potter, June 27, 1908, aged ninety years, 
seven months, twenty-four days; born in Mannilaus (Man- 
lius.?), N. Y. 

Ezra Fuller, January 19, 1909, aged ninety-three years, 
nine months, ten days. 

Calise Roseleau, December 5, 19 10, aged ninety-three 
years; born in Canada. 

Lucy Sutherland, December 9, 1910, aged ninety years, 
three months, six days; born in Shapleigh, Me. 

Mary Eliza Crawford, December 10, 1910, aged ninety 
years, four months, twenty days; born in Union, Conn. 

From 1865 to 1910 inclusive there were seven persons who 
died in their ninetieth year, including Permelia Smith, born 
in Lynnborough, died in Needham April 8, 1872, aged eighty- 
nine years, ten months and seventeen days, Betsey Gage 
Kimball, born in Bradford, died November 11, 1873, aged 
eighty-nine years, nine months and fifteen days, Anna 
(Spencer) Blasland, born in New Haven, Conn., died 
August 25, 1876, aged eighty-nine years, nine months and 
one day, James Smith, born in Needham, died March 28, 
1894, aged eighty-nine years, eleven months, twenty-four 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 619 

days, Henry Nash, born In England, died April 10, 1906, 
aged eighty-nine years, eight months and three days, 
Winthrop F. White, born In Acton, died May 29, 1907, 
aged eighty-nine years, eight months and nineteen days. 

There were also seventeen persons died from 1865 to 19 10 
who were In their eighty-ninth year, and of these was Hiram 
Carr, a native of North Haverhill, N. H., a venerable and 
familiar figure In the streets of our principal village. Mr. 
Carr died October 19, 1906, aged eighty-eight years, nine 
months and nine days. 

On October 30, 1906, George H. Gay, then aged ninety-four 
years, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker, ninety-two years and 
nearly four months, and Ezra Fuller, ninety-one years and 
seven months, lacking some days, were photographed to- 
gether on Mr. Fuller's grounds. All three were born in 
Needham, and with the exception of some years that Mr. 
Tucker was away, when In his prime, they all passed their 
entire lives in Needham. At the funeral of Mr. Gay a 
large bust of the First Napoleon, "Who [did] bestride the 
narrow world like a Colossus" when our venerable citizen 
was born, stood on the mantel near the head of the casket. 
Mr. Tucker and the writer sat together at the foot. 

"Like shadows gliding o'er the plain. 
Or clouds that roll successive on, 
Man's busy generations pass; 
And while we gaze, their forms are gone. 

*He lived, — he died'; behold the sum. 
The abstract of the historian's page! 
Alike, in God's all-seeing eye. 
The Infant's day, the patriarch's age." 

John Taylor. 

FRANCIS ASBURY BURRILL 

Needham has had Its share of original characters whose 
sayings or conduct would furnish materials for entertaining 
sketches. The writer knew many of these persons who were 



620 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

living in the last century, and has heard anecdotes of others, 
but there are relatives or friends to be considered. Most 
of these quaint or peculiar individuals belonged to fairly 
well-to-do families, and but few to the small element that 
may be described as degenerate representatives of the old 
New England stock. The latter are an interesting study, 
and exist chiefly in the more remote towns. They appear 
to have found no opportunities in this country, and to be 
badly "run out", although in some instances the first two 
or three generations in the New World were respected. 
There seems to be no reason why a brief biography of 
"Frank" Burrill should not be included in the town history, 
and certainly he was as versatile a "Jack of all trades", 
and as well known in the town, until within a few years, 
as any man within its limits. He was born at the town- 
farm on September i6, 1830, and represented three great 
races, — the Caucasian, the American Indian and the 
African. According to the town records his maternal 
ancestry was of mixed Indian and African descent. His 
name was recorded as William Wyman,^ but Mrs. Susan 
Burrill, an excellent woman, who lived on the Robert Fuller 
place, and near the poor-farm, was attracted to him because 
he was "such a pretty baby", and took him to her home. 
Mrs. Burrill had no children, and after a time adopted this 
infant, although her husband positively declined to have 
any part in the transaction. She named him Francis Asbury, 
in honor of the great Methodist divine, but the child's 
beauty did not last, and he grew to be rather a trial to his 
adopted mother, but was useful at times, as he was always 
the first to appear on important occasions, such as fires, 
where he was conspicuous. There are stories of his bravery, 
or recklessness, not only at fires, but when other opportuni- 
ties for getting killed presented themselves. 

Forty years ago it was the custom for the bo3^s and young 

' Mrs. Burrill had his birth recorded under his new name, and this time the 
date of birth is September 17. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 621 

men to gather on the triangle near the Church and play 
"three old cat" and scrub, and Frank joined them in their 
games till he was approaching fifty, his peculiar laugh 
resounding throughout the neighborhood. When less than 
twelve years old the writer was accustomed to play ball 
with Frank. This "common" is now private property, but 
prior to 1895 it belonged to the First Parish. For years 
Frank rang the Church bell to announce deaths, Sunday 
services, fires, and whenever there was an opportunity to 
ring it, particularly on the Fourth of July, when he was 
one of the noisiest persons in the town. The tall flag-pole 
was of especial interest to him, and he had charge of the 
flag. He was handy with tools and with machinery, and 
did a good deal of "tinkering" without pay. In consequence 
of judicious flattery. In a few instances he engaged In com- 
bats, the most elaborate of which was a duel fought with 
revolvers on North Hill one pleasant afternoon. The neigh- 
borhood was agitated by this momentous meeting, but as It 
was before the days of telephones It was some time before 
Officer Wragg arrived, and shots had been fired, though 
without the result hoped for by some people. During the 
excitement Frank repeatedly called out, "Stand up to it 
like a man", his opponent replying, "A life for a life". 
Frank never went to jail till he was about seventy years 
old, when an unappreciative corporation refused to recog- 
nize him as a privileged character, and resented his building 
a wall across Its street railway at the foot of a hill. Mrs. 
Burrlll left her real estate to the Methodists, subject to the 
life rights of Frank, and for thirty years the house was 
rented, Frank living In a shop which he built on the premises. 
Young men and boys annoyed him at times in his latter 
years, and he resorted to fire-arms, evidently not shooting 
to kill, although in at least one instance he wounded a boy. 
The father of the injured youth was at first somewhat 
annoyed by the "accident", but soon took a reasonable 
view of the affair, and there was no further reference to It. 



622 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Early in 1906 Frank was discovered ill in bed with the fire 
out, and the town physician was sent for, who on his 
arrival pronounced the disease to be pneumonia, and 
advised that the patient should be taken to a hospital, but 
Frank said that he preferred to stay in the shop. That 
winter several active men in the prime of life had died of 
this dread sickness in Needham, and the doctor, who was 
an excellent one, is said to have taken a gloomy view of his 
patient's prospects, saying that there was no use giving 
stimulants unless he gave a gallon at a time, but in a month 
Frank went personally to Natick to procure "supplies". 
He died after a brief illness February 25, 1908, in his seventy- 
eighth year, and his funeral, which was held in a marvel- 
lously cold place, was attended by the chairman of the 
selectmen, Edgar H. Bowers, by the writer, and by several 
other persons who felt an interest in Frank. Requiescat in 
pace. The town has had many a citizen who was a worse 
man than old Frank. 



Vi&it of ^regibent OTasfjington to 
ileebijam 

It has been said that General Washington passed through 
West Needham on his way to Cambridge in 1775; whether 
he did so or not he was in Needham on the morning of No- 
vember 6, 1789, on his return to New York from his Presiden- 
tial tour of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He had 
passed the night of the 5th in Watertown, and dined on the 
6th at Sherburne, now Sherborn. These facts are from the 
President's diary. At the Needham town line he was met 
by a cavalcade headed by his former companion-in-arms, 
Col. William M'^Intosh, whom he is said to have recognized 
at once. It was a day when rain or snow was threatening. 
The tradition is that the President stopped at Needham 
Lower Falls, under the elm that since has borne his name, 
and that he drank from the ancient well and praised the 
quality of the water. He proceeded to Sherburne along the 
street that for many years has been Washington Street. 
This old well was filled by Charles Rice, who planted a 
tree above it, and Frederick Curtis has a sketch, made about 
1844, of the house which stood in the shade of the Washing- 
ton elm. This house was unpainted, and was sometimes 
called the "Black House". It was a typical early eighteenth 
century dwelling, with the roof sloping nearly to the ground. 

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

This was observed at the Meeting-house on November 
16, 181 1, and Mr. Palmer preached his admirable and well- 
known "Century Sermon", which was printed in December 



624 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

by Herman Mann of Dedham. On April 6, 1812, the town 
chose Dr. Samuel Gould, Daniel Ware, Esq., and Isaac 
Shepard, Esq., "a Committee to exprefs their gratitude to 
the Rev^. Stephen Palmer for his extraordinary exertions 
in preparing and delivering his Sermon which Comprises 
an accurate history of the Town". Mr. Palmer gracefully 
acknowledged a letter from this committee, and also ad- 
dressed an able letter to the people of Needham, which Is 
worthy to be read by later generations. On May 11 the 
town voted to receive these letters, which were recorded. 
The town possesses Mr. Palmer's original letter, dated 
April 25, 1812, acknowledging the thanks of the committee. 
Apparently only one hundred copies of the sermon were 
printed, of which the town voted fifty to Mr. Palmer, six 
to the Rev. Mr. Noyes, and the balance of the edition to the 
town treasurer to dispose of. 

OLD HOME CELEBRATION 

In 1902 August 31, September i and 2 were devoted to an 
"Old Home Week" celebration. The plan for this home- 
coming was presented by the Rev. Robert L. Webb at a 
town meeting held on June 16, 1902, and a committee of 
five were then appointed to select one of twenty-five to 
arrange for It, the expenses to be met by private subscrip- 
tions. At the first meeting of the committee of twenty- 
five, known as the "General Committee", they named an 
"Executive Committee" of six, of which the Rev. Mr. 
Webb was the chairman, and three other committees, and 
later appointed seven more committees. The Executive 
Committee chose Henry D. Blackman as secretary and 
John F. Mills as treasurer, and all of the various committees 
did efficient work. The celebration began on Sunday, which 
was a beautiful day, with appropriate services In the 
Churches. On Monday, and again on Tuesday, the bells 
In the Churches rang at sunrise, and at half past nine on 
Monday Howard A. Grossman and J. Emery Coulter of the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 625 

"Excursion Committee" took charge of a party of twenty- 
five persons in four carriages and visited twenty-four points 
of historical interest in the town, including the Townsend 
house. Ten large signs had been placed indicating the 
site of the first meeting-house, of the old training-field and 
other historic places, and the party were accompanied by 
John F. Mills, whose knowledge of the town is exceptional, 
and who did much to make the celebration- a success. Mr. 
and Mrs. Arthur Whitaker received and refreshed the sight- 
seers at the Hillside Farm, and the three hours' drive was 
much enjoyed. During the forenoon there were sports, 
including a ball game on Washburn's Field. The Brookline 
Band furnished music during the sports. In the evening 
fully five hundred persons assembled in the town hall to 
hear the historical address of George Kuhn Clarke, who had 
been chosen Historian by the General Committee. The 
local papers spoke highly of this address, and it was printed 
practically in full in the Needham Recorder and in other 
papers. After the conclusion of the address there were 
other speakers in answer to invitations from the presiding 
officer, who was Dr. Albert E. Miller, and John T. Wye 
read an original poem entitled "Our Dear Old Home". On 
the platform were seated several guests, and prominent 
citizens of the town, including the Honorable Enos H. 
Tucker, then in his eighty-ninth year. The decorations, 
arranged by a committee of which Armand J. Mathey was 
the chairman, deservedly attracted much attention. The 
Webster Quartet furnished music. On Tuesday there was 
a party to visit places of interest, similar to that on Monday, 
and which started at ten o'clock; they were given refresh- 
ments by John A. Tilton and by Mrs. Curtis M'^Intosh. 
Late on Tuesday afternoon was laid the corner-stone of the 
new town hall by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massa- 
chusetts, the members of the board of selectmen and the 
building committee participating. Fully three thousand 
persons witnessed these impressive ceremonies, which had 



626 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

been preceded by a procession headed by Dodge's Cadet 
Band of Natick, which gave a concert from five to six P.M. 
on the common. Later there was a collation for the Masons 
and others in the town hall, and in the evening the town 
officers had a reception in that hall, followed by addresses 
by ex-Mayor Charles H. Coulter of Brockton, William 
Carter and others. Prizes for success in the various games 
were awarded by the Honorable Emery Grover, who had 
been prominent at the laying of the corner-stone of the new 
hall. Prizes were also given to Thomas J. Crossman and 
to Armand J. Mathey, the former in recognition of his 
having the best decorated store, and the latter the best 
decorated house. Edgar H. Bowers, the chairman of the 
selectmen, presided on Tuesday evening, and Knowlton & 
Allen's orchestra furnished the music. There was enthu- 
siasm for the Rev. Mr. Webb, who had been the leader in 
planning and carrying out the programme, and he was 
called upon at a late hour to speak. The "Old Home 
Week" ended with a social dance in the hall. The weather 
was fine during the three days of the celebration, which was 
a great success, and attended by many former residents 
of Needham, including Josiah H. Carter, who was upward 
of ninety years of age and had been a town officer in Need- 
ham prior to 1850. 

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

No attempt has been made to give in this town history 
an account of the elaborate Bicentennial celebration by the 
Town of Needham in September, 191 1, as a volume descrip- 
tive of those memorable days is to be issued by the town, 
but it is desirable to record what occurred in November, 
191 1, when the real birthday was observed. On November 
15 the bell of the First Church was rung in recognition of 
the fact that it was first heard on November 15, 181 1, and 
on the 17th, the anniversary of the Incorporation of the 
Town, the various bells were rung and flags were dis- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 627 

played. In the evening the Needham Historical Society 
met in the First Church, when the charter members signed 
the by-laws, and listened to the reading of a portion of the 
Rev. Stephen Palmer's Century Sermon and also an ex- 
tract from his sermon commemorative of Colonel William 
Mcintosh. 

On the evening of the 20th the Music Study Class of 
Needham gave a musical play in Bourne Hall, the title 
being " Nehoiden " and the scene High Rock Woods prior 
to 1680. This play was written by Mrs. William C. 
Moseley, who adapted old English and Indian melodies 
and ballads to it. Several of the performers excel as singers 
and the acting was good; all of the parts were taken 
by women. William Nehoiden " wore the ancient powder- 
horn owned by Sumner B. Mills, and said to have once 
been the property of the Indian Nehoiden (or Hahaton). 

NEEDHAM AUTHORS 

In 1765 Elizabeth Harris wrote verse inspired by the 
death of friends, and twenty years later Caleb Fisher, a 
native of Dedham, but who lived in Needham, wrote in the 
Byronic strain about women, the poet then having reached 
the discriminating age of fifteen years. 

There have been two ministers of the Church in the West 
Precinct who have been conspicuous as writers, the Rev. 
Harvey Newcomb and the Rev. Abijah R. Baker. Mr. 
Newcomb was the author of one hundred and seventy- 
eight books, all of a religious character, and chiefly for the 
use of young people, particularly for Sunday Schools. Two 
of these books had a circulation of thirty-four thousand 
copies each, and others were nearly as popular. Mr. New- 
comb's great work, which is still an authority, is the "Cyclo- 
pedia of Missions", 784 pages, published by Scribners, 1854. 
Mr. Baker was brilliant and versatile, and wrote a number 
of books for Sunday School use. Of these "The Catechism 
Tested by the Bible" had had a sale of half a million copies 



628 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

to the year 1871, and was published in six different languages, 
including Arabic and Hawaiian. In Hawaii the use of this 
book was established by the Government. President Lin- 
coln said that he had taught from the religious text-books 
of Mr. Baker, and that he especially liked "Tim the Scis- 
sors Grinder", the first in a series of popular stories written 
by Mrs. Baker. She was Harriette Newell Woods, daughter 
of Professor Leonard Woods of Andover, and was the author 
of two hundred volumes, mostly religious novels. Wash- 
ington Irving referred to certain of her writings in terms of 
praise. The Rev. Mr. Baker wrote "Divine Sovereignty 
in Human Salvation", which required thirty editions to 
satisfy the demand. Other books of his were a success, and 
his printed sermons and addresses numerous. Dr. William 
Thomas Green Morton, the discoverer of the use of Ether 
as an anaesthetic, published comparatively little, but his 
friend Mr. Rice wrote an interesting volume entitled "Trials 
of a Public Benefactor, as Illustrated in the Discovery of 
Etherization", 1859. This book gives an account of the 
troubled life of Dr. Morton. 

A complete list of the books, pamphlets and magazine 
articles written by residents of Needham during the cen- 
tury ending in 191 1, would be undoubtedly a long one, and, 
as is the case with the fauna and flora of the town, must 
be prepared by others than the writer of this history. The 
establishment of Wellesley College added to the list of 
authors in Needham, both of prose and verse, and within 
the limits of the present town there have been no less than 
fifteen persons who have written verse during the past forty 
years, and much of it has been printed. 

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 

Between October, 1868, and December, 1870, Charles 
E. Keith published five numbers of The Sierra Magazine, 
purporting to be issued in Needham and San Francisco. 
These numbers contained in all about one hundred and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 629 

twelve pages, and were devoted to poetry and miscellaneous 
matter written by Mr. Keith. In January, 1871, appeared 
the first number of The Beautiful Worlds which Mr. Keith 
intended for a semi-annual, and which was entirely filled 
with verses. As a matter of fact this periodical was limited 
to six numbers, the second appearing in October, 1871, and 
the last in July, 1873, ^^e average number of pages being 
about twenty-two. The first issue of The Sierra Magazine 
had contained lines addressed to Lake Cochituate, and 
verses on High Rock and on Needham. These contribu- 
tions to the magazine were of considerable length, and 
the two latter are found also in the final number of The 
Beautiful World, the verses describing Needham having 
undergone some alteration in the mean time. All of these 
pamphlets were issued in book form by C. E. Keith & Co., 
36 Bromfield Street, Boston: 1873, and were preceded by a 
Memoir of Royal Keith, with a genealogy. 

In 1874 George W. South worth, a native of Stoughton, 
established a printing office in Needham, and on Saturday, 
November 28, issued the first number of the Needham Chron- 
icle and Wellesley Advertiser, which after May 21, 188 1, 
that being the date of the last issue under the original name, 
became the Needham Chronicle without the words ^^ and 
Wellesley Advertiser'^ and to the present time has continued 
the principal source of local news for many of the citizens 
of this town. The paper has been changed and enlarged 
several times, and presents an attractive appearance. 
Mr. Southworth has the reputation of using good type, and 
a much higher grade of paper than is customary. This print- 
ing plant has been one of the features of Needham since 
1874, and most of the town printing has been done there. 
The excellent quality of the paper used is shown by the 
good condition of the town documents after the lapse of 
many years. The Dedham Historical Society has the only 
perfect file of this paper from 1874 to 1897 that is known 
to the writer of this history. The office files were burned 



630 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

with the Odd Fellows Building in 1887. Mr. Cyrus W. 
Jones, who is a collector of historical documents, has a file 
of the Chronicle that lacks only eight or ten numbers prior 
to the year in the nineties when he ceased to preserve the 
papers. 

The Needham Globe was issued by William G. Moseley 
on August I, September i and October i, 1878, and then 
ceased.^ The Needham News published by John D. Emmons 
was limited to Vol. i. No. I, which was issued on Friday, 
June 9, 1883, and The Needham Enterprise, May 18, 1887, 
did not exceed one number. The latter was the result of 
the enterprise of Bowers & Brown, printers, and appeared 
a day or two after their office in the Odd Fellows Building 
was destroyed by fire. The first number of the Needham 
Recorder appeared on December 8, 1894, and this paper has 
continued to the present time, and is practically an edition 
of the Natick Citizen, of which William T. Howard of Natick 
was until recently the editor and proprietor. Both the 
Chronicle and the Recorder have at times been involved in 
the storms of local politics, representing opposing factions, 
or parties, and much has been printed that cannot be 
accepted by the historian as fair or impartial. 

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS 

Paul Dewing, who was a military man, is remembered as 
sometimes playing a huge ophicleide, or tuber, horn. The 
Flaggs of West Needham and the Manns of East Needham 
were excellent musicians, and the Fries brothers, Henry, 
August and Wulf, contributed to give Needham a reputa- 
tion as the home of some exceptionally accomplished per- 
formers. Henry D. C. Fries lived in East Needham in the 
fifties, and his brothers were often there. Moses, William 
Willard and Joel Richards Mann, sons of Lieut.-Col. Moses 

* Mr. Moseley states that to the best of his recollection there were four numbers 
of the Needham Globe, and that the first was issued in July. Cyrus W. Jones 
says that August i is No. i, and that his file consists of three papers; evidently a 
file of this paper is extremely rare. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 631 

Mann, who was an old-time chorister, were well known, and 
Willard as a clarinet player had few equals anywhere. 
Moses Mann, the younger, organized the noted Boston Brass 
Band. Isaac Flagg played the fife, Solomon Flagg, and his 
son Solomon, Jr., the snare drum, and Eben Flagg was a 
noted bandmaster associated with "Ned" Kendall, and 
who had a high reputation for his mastery of the bugle, 
cornet and clarinet. Eben Flagg engaged in contests of 
skill with some well-known bugle and cornet players, and 
was usually victorious. In 1861 he was the leader of Flagg's 
Band. It is said that for some time after his first wife's 
death he declined to play an instrument; he died in 
Wellesley April 30, 1893, aged eighty-four years and 
eleven months. 

Elisha Flagg, the father of Isaac and Eben, was skilled 
with the fife, and furnished martial music for the musters. 

The Nehoiden Glee Club flourished in the years im- 
mediately preceding the Civil War, and the writer has a 
programme of a concert given by this club in i860. After 
the war the Highlandville Cornet Band was organized in 
that village, and its members were of English birth. Thomas 
Beach led with an Et^ cornet. A uniform was obtained, 
and for years this band was one of the institutions of the 
town. The Needham Brass Band was formed at Highland- 
ville in the seventies, and for a time met in Highland Hall, 
but later on the premises of James Beless, who rendered 
generous assistance to the musicians in procuring uniforms 
and in various ways. In 1883 William Wragg was the 
business manager of the Needham Brass Band. About 
1885 the band was given up, which was regretted, as its 
members were not only good musicians, but steady and 
reliable young men. In 1871, or 1872, the Nehoiden Cornet 
Band was formed at the Great Plain, with Charles Ewing, 
the druggist, as the leader. Mr. Ewing played a B t? cornet, 
and John Clews, who lived at Highlandville, added much 
to the music with his E cornet. The band sometimes 



632 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

met In Highland Hall, and included a number of members 
resident In that part of the town. Alonzo Bond of Boston, 
a popular Instructor, was their teacher, but the organization 
barely survived a second summer. They had no uniform 
except caps. The writer remembers attending one of their 
rehearsals In Highland Hall, and recalls Mr. Bond's energetic 
manner. The Needham Choral Society flourished for a 
year or two soon after the division of the town. In 1907 
Charles E. Cushing, who plays the cornet, formed an ex- 
cellent orchestra of eight pieces, known as the Needham 
Concert Orchestra. At times the musicians consisted of 
four ladies and four men, all but two of whom were resi- 
dents of this town. Since 1909 there has been a fine High 
School orchestra, familiar as the Needham Harmonic Orches- 
tra, and which includes ten, or more, pieces. Edward F. 
Howe has a good orchestra of some half dozen Instruments, 
and in 1910 the Needham Military Band was formed. In 
191 1 the band numbers thirty-two musicians, some of whom 
are accomplished performers, and It is a source of pride to 
the citizens of the town. It has a uniform, and In 191 1 a 
fully equipped band-stand was erected on the common, the 
public subscribing some $800 for the purpose. 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AS TO INDIVIDUALS, HOUSES AND 
LANDS, ETC. 

Sixty-five years ago an old black house stood just south 
of the residence of the late Sherman Bowers and was 
reached by a cart-path which ran from Webster Street to 
Rosemary Street. Joseph Mudge, Jr., was an auctioneer In 
1790. Moses Mann was licensed in 1795 "to sell by retail 
distilled Spirits at his Shop" in Needham. 

Nathaniel Bullard and Royal Mcintosh were auctioneers 
in 1805, '06. Jabez Morse was a glazier In 181 5; Jonathan 
Bowdltch and Benjamin Davenport were then blacksmiths. 
Peter Lyon and Samuel W. Dix were blacksmiths at the 
Lower Falls under the firm name of Lyon & Dix In 1821. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 633 

Early in 18 13 the General Court authorized the towns 
of Newton and Needham to jointly maintain a fire-com- 
pany at the Lower Falls. Needham was to furnish eight 
of the twenty-one enginemen, and thus became identified 
with Newton's oldest fire-company, which for many years 
has been known as Cataract Engine Company Number i. 
The Act of 1813 repealed one passed on June 18, 1812, 
which created the fire-company, and authorized the select- 
men of each town to appoint annually in March not more 
than ten enginemen, thus forming a company of twenty. 

The Thomas Kingsbury house, later the home of the 
Bowen family, at the corner of Highland and Greendale 
Avenues, was built in 1821. It is said that the old barns 
on the Noyes and Colonel Mcintosh places were both made 
from portions of a huge ancient barn that stood on the 
Robert Fuller, Jr., farm. When the Noyes barn was taken 
down in 1891 it had been on the same site for about seventy 
years. The house on Rosemary Street, which in 1906 was 
turned around and moved nearer the street by Mr. William 
Carter, and now greatly renovated stands north of the 
Nehoiden Block, was long conspicuous as an old tenement 
painted red, and the timber from which it was built was 
cut on Davis C. Mills's land off Greendale Avenue, not far 
from Great Plain Avenue. Newell Smith's house, later the 
home of Luther Kingsbury, was built in 1826 on Parish 
land. The Hagar house on South Street was built in 1827. 
William Bradley was a blacksmith in Needham in 1845. 
Artemas Newell, known as "Squire Art", had a reputation 
for giving good dinners at his house in Needham, and among 
his guests were Governor Banks, Thomas Wentworth Hig- 
ginson, and also the then Auditor-General of the Common- 
wealth and others. Squire Newell had much to do with 
securing the first railroad facilities for East Needham. The 
writer well remembers the Squire, who leaned heavily on 
a cane, and wore a rather brilliant dressing-gown. He 
died July 3, 1871, aged sixty-four years. 



634 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In i860 C. H. & G. W. Dewing had a store on the 
Great Plain, and Frederick Marchant and Timothy N. 
Smith had lumber yards close to the railroad, on the west 
side, and opposite to each other on Great Plain Avenue. 
Mr. Marchant's yard was on the north side of the avenue. 

On August 24, 1893, the one-act comedy entitled "My 
Uncle's Will" was given in the town hall for the benefit 
of the Needham Library Building Fund, and Miss Annie 
M. Clarke of the Boston Museum Company, who for 
more than fifteen years was a summer resident of Needham, 
appeared as Florence Marigold with Frank Andrews of the 
Grand Opera House, Boston, as Charles Cashmore. Miss 
Clarke is said to have also played the leading part in a 
drama given in Needham for the same fund, or other object 
of public interest. 

Needham felt an earthquake at 2 A.M. on February 5, 
1908, and again at 8.30 P.M. on August 15, 1909. 

The church-bell, mentioned on page 204, weighs nine 
hundred and sixty pounds. 

THE HUNNEWELL ESTATE 

The Honorable John Welles had a fine estate in what is 
now Wellesley and in Natick, and in 1839 his son-in-law, 
Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, came to reside in West Needham, 
occupying the house formerly the home of Dr. Morrill. 
In 1852 the fine Hunnewell mansion was erected, and two 
years later the noted Italian gardens were laid out, with 
six terraces four hundred feet long and the upper terrace 
seventy feet above the level of the lake. These gardens 
contain over two acres, and, with the other features of this 
beautiful estate, are noted far and wide, and are annually 
visited by thousands of persons, who enjoy the generous 
hospitality of the owner and share with him the oppor- 
tunity to view the results of his taste and successful manage- 
ment. The azaleas and rhododendrons make a most bril- 
liant show in their season, and the place is attractive and 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 635 

worthy of study at all times. The property consisted in 
1 88 1 of about four hundred acres, of which one hundred 
and fifty acres were in Natick and the rest in Needham. 
Formerly sixty-six acres, with buildings, were owned by the 
Misses Susan and Jane Welles, but were later acquired by 
Mr. Hunnewell, who also bought thirty acres of the Dr. 
Morton estate. Ten acres of this land he gave to the Town 
of Wellesley for a park, and built there the fine town hall 
and library building, which he also presented to the town. 
The playground of twenty acres on Washington Street, 
and that in South Natick, are among his many presents to 
the people, and his kindly manners and generous deeds, 
without the slightest ostentation, made him beloved in the 
community where he lived for upward of sixty years. Prior 
to 1881 Mr. Hunnewell had gathered around him his chil- 
dren and grandchildren, and one mansion after another 
rose on the Hunnewell estate, until at the present time 
(191 1) the family occupies six or eight fine residences. The 
letter W may still be seen upon the gates of the Welles place 
as one approaches the Natick line. 



Hogs! anb ^ogreabes 

As early as 1632 there was legislation in Massachusetts 
to restrain the swine, and in 1636 the office of hogreave 
was created. Under both charters laws were passed, and 
amended from time to time, relative to swine running at 
large. In 1719 the town chose Jonathan Smith and Andrew 
Wodkins "for the Regelalating of Swine & Sworn", and on 
March 4, 1722/3, voted that "Swine Should Run at Larg". 
The vote of 1722/3, with slightly varying language, was 
annually repeated until 1768, when the majority was on 
the other side, but the vote was reconsidered at an adjourned 
meeting. In 1769 the sentiment was again unfavorable to 
the liberties of the swine, and from that time on, with the 
exception of 1770-5, it was rarely in their favor for two con- 
secutive years, although in 1790 the hogs were to be free a 
portion of the year. This was about the last of the votes 
that did not enjoin constant restraint.^ 

It is said that the pigs in early times wandered long dis- 
tances, remaining in the woods for months and rearing 
their families there. The General Court had enacted in 
February, 1713/14, that swine were to be restrained, and a 
fine of twenty shillings was imposed upon a man who 

^ In 1781 the vote was "Swine to Run at Large this year Being well yoked and 
Ringed"; the next year there was a contest as to whether they would "Shut up 
their Hogs" from March 25 to May I, and from September I to October 31, but 
the votes which were once passed were later reconsidered. There was an annual 
controversy about the swine for many years, and as a nuisance and detriment to 
the town, because of the way in which they were kept, they have been a live issue 
to the close of the nineteenth century, and may be in the twentieth. In 1884 the 
citizens had much difficulty in getting rid of a piggery, containing several hundred 
animals, which a non-resident had located on Marked Tree Road, and but a short 
distance from the modern centre of the town. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 637 

refused to serve as a hogreave, but In 1747 it was provided 
that the same person should not be chosen to that office 
oftener than once in four years. 

POUNDS AND STOCKS 

On May 11, 1713, Joslah Newell and Josiah Haws were 
chosen by the town to make a pound, and in December the 
former was granted £2, los., 2d. "for defraying the Charg 
of Sitting up a pound for this Town". In September, 1721, 
it was voted to build a pound and stocks, and the next May 
to rebuild the pound on land given by Josiah Haws. Mr. 
Haws lived on the hill north of where Edward Granville 
Fuller's house is, and it is not unlikely that the land he gave 
was identical with the site of the modern pound, which was at 
the entrance to the driveway of the late Michael W. Quinlan 
on Great Plain Avenue. Mr. Haws was to build the pound 
for £2, 5s. "upon the Land of S^ Haws which Land he Gives 
free for the ufe of the Town as Long as S"* pound" shall 
exist. He rebuilt it in 1733, and for more than twenty years 
had charge of it, and made the necessary repairs at the ex- 
pense of the town. In 1733 the town voted to build a pound 
near the house of Peter Edes, in the West, but reconsidered 
the vote a few days later. At the March meeting in 1744/5 
£10 were appropriated to build a pound, and a year later 
Robert Ware and Josiah Newell, Jr., had performed the 
work, and another £10 were required to pay for it. From 
1761 to 1764 Amos Fuller, Jr., made repairs on the pound, 
and in 1767 Capt. Ephraim Jackson was granted £9, 8s. 
"for his Building a Stone pound and Finding Meterials 
their for"; this stone pound appears to have resulted 
from a vote of May 22, 1766, which was to build a pound 
"Near Caps Jackfon's or Lis Mackintafh's: where it Shall 
be thought moft proper". The selectmen were the building 
committee. On March 14, 1763, the town refused to abate 
forty shillings "of the note that was Given by Mef" Lokers 
of Sudbery to Caps Eleazer Kingsbery Town Treafurer as 



638 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

a Fine For their Breaking open Needham Pound", or to 
pay Ephraim and Moses Bullard two "Dollors" "for their 
Detecting Mef" Lokers in the act of Pound Breach". In 
181 1 Lieut. Fisher Mills repaired the pound to the extent 
of $22.25. I^ 1847 the town directed the selectmen to sell 
the old pound if they could get $20 for it, and to build a 
new one on the town farm. It does not appear what action 
was taken under this vote, but in 1855 the selectmen were 
authorized to build a pound at the town farm, and it con- 
tinued in use until the division of the town in 1881, since 
which time the pound has been nominally at the stable of 
the pound-keeper. 

The law of 1648 awarded death by hanging to the dog 
that killed a sheep. In March, 1721, the town "a greed by 
a vote that no Ram Should go at Larg in the Common from 
the first day of august untill y« last day of October under 
penalty of 3 shilling or the Ram that Shall be taken up by 
any owner of Sheep in this town". Eleven years later a 
similar vote was passed increasing the time of restraint 
about a week. On March 13, 1738/9, John Fisher, Esq., 
James Smith and Aaron Smith were chosen a committee 
"to draw up Sumthing to bring to the Town Refpecting 
Rams Running att Large", and on May 16 the town passed 
the following vote: — "Whereas the Inhabitants of the 
town of Needham Labour under Dificultys with Respect to 
Rams going at Large which have been a great damage by 
reafon of the Sheeps Lambing in Winter Seafon It is There- 
fore Ordered. That from & after the Laft Day of July 
next until the first day of November yearly for such term 
of time as they Shall think Convenient no rams Shall be 
Suffered to go at Large in Said town under the Penalty 
of twenty Shillings to be paid by the Owner of Such Ram 
one Moiety to y" finder and the other Moiety to the poor 
of said town & every ram so found Running at Large to be 
posted up in Some Publick Place in S^ town with the Colour 
& Marks both natural & artificial & if noo owner appear 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 639 

within the Space of Six days then the S^ ram to belong to 
y® finder of S^ ram he paying y« one half of y® Value of S^ 
ram to the Select men & overfeers of the Poor. The fore- 
going Order or by Law having been read three Several 
times voted that y^ Same be accepted & that John Fisher 
Esq? & Aaron Smith be & hereby are desired to prefent to 
y^ Court of Gen: Sefsions of y^ Peace next to be holden at 
Boston for their Appropriation". On May 14, 1789, a 
lengthy and elaborate vote restraining rams from going 
at large between the twentieth of August and the tenth of 
November "having had Three Several Readings in Town 
meeting legally afsembled past to be anacted by a Vote In 
the Affirmative". The town records contain under date of 
October 16, 1752, a description of two steers "Taken up 
Damage Fesant by Nathaniel Fisher of Needham", and the 
appraisal of these steers was recorded as taking place on the 
28th. In the back part of Vol. IV. of our town records 
will be found a number of similar transactions more elabo- 
rately recorded. At the May meeting In 1779 the town 
voted "that their Cattel Should feed on the Roads and 
Commons In the Town". In 1801 James Smith petitioned 
the town to enforce the law of 1800, which authorized towns 
to restrain "Neat Cattle and horfes and horse kind" from 
going at large "without a Keeper", and the town voted to 
restrain said animals from May i to October "laft",and a sim- 
ilar vote was passed annually for fifty years, with rare excep- 
tions. The length of the period of restraint, however, varied, 
but later Included the entire year. The first Inspector of Cattle 
and Provisions In Needham was Samuel O. Fowle, M .D .V., 
who was appointed In 1893, and served for many years at a 
salary of $100, which has recently been increased to $300. 

POUND-KEEPERS 

The following list Is Incomplete as to the early pound- 
keepers, but the best that the records afford: — 
Joseph Haws, 1714 (May 12), '16-18, four years, probably 



640 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

served for many years, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., appointed 
by the selectmen on May 19, 1746, Amos Fuller, Jr., appointed 
on May 12, 1766, "To be Pound Keeper For the year 
Enfuing", Major Ebenezer MTntosh, 1804-10, '13-17 
(twelve years), Lemuel Fairbanks, 181 1, Lemuel Pratt, 
1812, '13, '18, '19, '30, '32, Capt. Curtis M^'Intosh, 1820-5, 
'31 (seven years), Ebenezer Whiting M'^Intosh, 1833-7, 
'44, '45 (seven years), Jabez Smith, 1838, '40-3, '46 (six 
years). Bill Burrill, 1847, William F. Welch, 1848, James 
Smith, 1849, Charles M'=Intosh, 1850-2 (three years), 
Ezekiel Peabody, 1853-8, '75-81 (thirteen years). Dexter 
Kingsbury, 1859-66 (eight years), Benjamin Joy, 1868- 
71 (four years), perhaps also served a part of 1872, Edward 
L. Ward, 1872, Everett Johnson Eaton, 1882, '83, '88-90 
(five years), Robert Edwin Ames, 1884-7 (four years), 
Charles Hiram Dewing, 1891-5 (five years), Alger Emerson 
Eaton, 1896- . 

There seems to be no record of the election, or appoint- 
ment, of a pound-keeper in 1857, in 1867, in 1873 or in 1874. 
At the March meeting in 1857 the appointments of high- 
way surveyors, field drivers, surveyors of wood, sealers of 
leather, sealers of bread and surveyors of lumber were 
referred to the selectmen, but their selections were ratified 
by the town on April 2. These officers were again elected 
in 1859, but the pound-keeper, sealer of weights and meas- 
ures and the firewards have been appointed by the select- 
men for more than thirty years. The selectmen have also 
prepared the lists of other minor town officers when the 
town did not exercise that power. 

FIELD DRIVERS 

The field drivers have had only nominal duties In modern 
times, and never were important. In Needham the number 
was originally two, but was soon increased to four, and then 
reduced to three. There were rarely, if ever, more than 
five until 18 14, when eight were chosen; in 1818 there were 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 641 

eleven, in 1828 twelve, and the number has since varied. 
In 1880 there were five, in 1898 eight, in 1904 four, and in 
191 1 three. It does not appear to what extent the law as 
to cattle and swine going at large was enforced a century 
ago, but in later times it has not always been observed. 
In the years from 183 1 to 1853, inclusive, the fence viewers 
and the field drivers were combined into one list which 
numbered from six to thirteen individuals, varying at 
different dates. 

FENCE VIEWERS 

A law of December, 1693, required each town to elect 
two or more fence viewers, and as early as 1653 the select- 
men had duties as fence viewers. In 171 2 there were two 
fence viewers chosen by the Town of Needham, in 18 12 
three, in 1854 six, and since 1867 the selectmen have been 
the fence viewers. The duties of the fence viewers involve 
considerable formality, and their findings have been recorded 
at the end of different volumes of the town records. 

There are no conspicuous instances of long service among 
them. For the names of the field drivers and fence viewers 
from 171 2 to 1776 see the lists of minor town officers later 
in this book. 

Early in 1772 Samuel Wight was granted 7s., 2d., 2f. for 
"Irons for the Stocks in Needham", and Lieut. Jonathan 
Day ten shillings for "Making & Setting Up the Stocks". 

WILD ANIMALS AND BOUNTIES 

Wolves were numerous in Dedham in its early days, but 
scarce after 1700, although* not unknown in West Dedham 
much later. In 1705 Benjamin Colburn received ten shil- 
lings for killing a wolf, and the bounty was not abolished 
till 1716. On September 7, 1730, Josiah Kingsbery, the 
treasurer of Needham, had paid £6 for wild cats killed 
"and fent to the Province Treafurer", and in the winter of 
173 1/2 the assessors made a rate "to Defray the Nefsefsary 



642 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Charges of this Town for this prefent year (With Refpect 
to the paying for Killing Wild Catts to gether with Other 
Charges of the Town". 

On April 4, 1791, the town voted a "Bounty of one Shil- 
ling for each Crow that may be killed within the limits of 
of Said Town by any of the Inhabitants of said town". 
Later the usual bounty was ten cents, but from 18 14 to 18 16 
it was twenty-five cents, although subsequently again ten 
cents, and in 1805 and 18 18 there was no bounty paid by the 
town for crows. The season was from May l to July I, 
and in 18 16 the claims for crow bounties were to be brought 
in within sixty days. The later year seventy-eight crows 
appear to have thus lost their lives, and in 1827 one hundred 
and four crows were paid for at twenty cents each. It is 
said that there was fraud in connection with these claims. 

In 1868 the selectmen were requested by the town to 
instruct the constables "to prevent gunning on the Sabbath". 

DEER AND DEERREAVES 

In 1693/4 there was legislation in Massachusetts to pro- 
tect the deer, and in 1739 a law was enacted requiring each 
town to choose two deerreaves; "Dearreaves" our town 
clerks called them, and the deer were supposed to be pro- 
tected from January I to July i. On November 23, 1739, 
Jonathan Smith and John Goodanow "were Chofen to 
take care of the Deer as the Law Directs", and were duly 
sworn. Josiah Ware was deerreave for thirty-five years 
between 1743 and 1788, and some years had no colleague, 
notwithstanding the statute. The last deerreaves in Need- 
ham were Charles Deming and Lieut. Nathan Dewing who 
were chosen for 1798. All laws for the "preservation and 
increase" of moose and deer were repealed on February 
27, 1797, with the exception that the laws continued in 
force on certain islands. For many years no deer were 
seen in Needham, but in the first decade of the twentieth 
century they became not infrequent visitors in different 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 643 

sections of the town. In July, 1910, a buck was seen feeding 
in the writer's mowing land, and later the same day a doe 
appeared. In 1909 several had been reported, but usually 
only one was seen at a time. 

For the names of the deerreaves from 1739 to 1776, in- 
clusive, see the lists of minor town officers. 

DOGS 

By a law of 1798 owners of dogs were required to certify 
the number of their dogs to the assessors on or before April 
I, and after 1798 on or before May i, and each dog was to 
be taxed $1, and to wear a collar with the name of the 
owner of the dog on it. If not certified the tax was $2, 
and no tax exemptions applied. The assessors were to cause 
unlicensed dogs to be killed, and might pay as high as $2 
for killing one dog, and draw on the town treasurer for the 
amount paid. Owners were liable for dog damages. Pay- 
ing this dog tax was to give no "habitancy". The law did 
not apply to the District of Maine. This law was the fore- 
runner of others, and in 1865 the tax on male dogs was 
made $2. 

In 1798 there were twenty-five dogs in the East part of 
the town and twenty-four in the West taxed at $1 per head. 
The number licensed in different decades has been as fol- 
lows: — 1900 260, 1905 357, 1910 339. As far as known 
to the writer dogs under the age of six months have been 
omitted from the census. From 1869 to 1888 the schools 
benefited by the dog taxes, and from 1889 the Free Public 
Library, which received $722.52 from this source in 191 1. 
Early in 1849 a large committee was chosen to enforce the 
dog law, and "to prevent dogs from going at large" unless 
the dog was "Muzzeled Sufficant to prevent his biting or 
doing damage, under a penalty of $10"; the committee 
was also to ask the General Court for a change in the law. 
In 1854 the town levied a tax of two dollars per head on all 
dogs running at large, and required the animals to be 



644 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

licensed and to wear collars with their owners' names 
inscribed thereon. Failure to observe these regulations was 
to involve a fine of $io "without Judge or Jury". 

As late as 1852 there were no seats in the town hall, 
except for certain officials, and such as were brought in for 
aged men, and the older citizens say that at the town meet- 
ings the dogs were almost as numerous as the voters, and 
that these noble animals greatly disturbed the meetings. 

In 1859 there were still some sheep in Needham, and the 
inhabitants petitioned the General Court "for better pro- 
tection of Sheep from the ravages of Dogs", voting at the 
April meeting that if the General Court did not heed their re- 
quest then "the Town hereby request the Assessors to omit 
taking the Invoice of Dogs, and assessing a Dog Tax for the 
present year". In 1858 only thirty-one dogs had been reg- 
istered, of which number Davis C. Mills had three, presum- 
ably foxhounds, as he was well known as a fox-hunter through- 
out an extensive territory, and came of a hunting family. 

FISH 

On May 22, 1738, the town voted to petition the General 
Court to remove the "Comberance" at Watertown, which 
prevented fish from coming up the river, and in 1765 En- 
sign Lemuel Pratt was chosen by the town "to See to the 
Obfervation of the law Relating to y^ Catching of Fifh". 
Under date of May 31, 1786, forty-six men, most of them 
of Needham, petitioned the General Court to protect the 
shad in the Charles River, which were taken with "Seanes 
& Wares" to the great injury "of the poorer part of the 
Community". The petitioners stated "That moft of the 
Sluices at the Damns below the lower falls in the Town of 
Newton are so conftructed as to render the pafsage of the 
said fifh difficult, and at some feafons impracticable", and 
that as a result "thofe valueable fifh will foon be exterpated 
from the faid River". The General Court failed to legislate 
at that time in behalf of the shad (House Files 1992). 



^tate, Count? anb tlToton Officers 



Judge of the District Court of Northern Norfolk: — Hon. 
Emery Grover, June 15, 1898- . 

Member of the Governor's Council: — Edgar Kimball 
Whitaker, 1851. 

State Senators: — Joseph Emery Fiske, 1876, ''"j'j^ Enos 
Houghton Tucker, 1888, '89. 

Representatives in the General Court: — 



Capt. Robert Cook, 
John Smith, 

Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 
Josiah Kingsbery, 
John Fisher, Esq., 

William Bowdoin, 
Lieut. Amos Fuller, 
Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
Col. William Mcintosh, 
Dea. John Fisher, 
Nathaniel Fisher, 
Robert Fuller, Jr., 
Lieut. William Fuller, 
Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 
Lieut. Col. Silas Alden, 
Lieut. Daniel Ware, 
James Smith, 
Capt. Jonathan Gay, Jr., 
Capt. Elisha Lyon, 
Seth Colburn, 
Aaron Smith, 



1712, '26, '39. 
1714. 

1723. 

1728, '29, '31. 

1735-8, '40, '41, '51 (seven 

years). 
1752-5 (four years). 
1756, '59-61, '66 (five years). 
1768-72, '74, '79 (seven years) 
1775, '^6, '80, '81, '83. 
1777, '78. 
1782, '85. 
1787. 
1789, '90. 

1793, '98, '99> 1801, '03. 
1796. 

1805-7, '10-13 (seven years). 
1808, '09. 
1814. 

1816, '39, '40. 
1824, 
1827. 



646 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



George Fisher, 
Gen. Charles Rice, 
Rufus Mills, 



Thomas Kingsbury, 
Solomon Flagg, Jr., 
William Flagg, 
Dea. Asa Kingsbury, 
Emery Fiske, 
Capt. George Smith, 
Rev. Daniel Kimball, 
Edgar Kimball Whitaker, 
Henry Robinson, 
Lauren Kingsbury, 
George Keith Daniell, 
Charles Curtis Greenwood, 
Galen Orr, 
John Morton Harris, 
Joseph Emery Fiske, 
James Mackintosh, 
Lyman Knights Putney, 
Enos Houghton Tucker, 
Albert Ebur Miller, 
William Carter, 
Thomas Sutton, 
William Henry Carter, 
William George Moseley, 



1830. 

1831. 

1832 (he was the first elected 
in November preceding the 
year of service), '33. 

1834-6, '48, '49 (five years). 

1834, '61. 

1836, '37. 

1837, '38, '42. 
1840, '41. 
1843, '44. 
1846. 

1847. 

1850, '51. 

1855, the district 1858. 

1857, '66, '70. 

1863. 

1864. 

1872. 

1874. 

1876, '77, '81. 

1880, '83. 

1885. 

'89. 

'04. 
'10. 



I 

1895. 

1903, 
1906. 
1909, 



The following were elected to represent Needham in the 
General Court and declined to serve: — John Smith, 1715* 
Josiah Kingsbery, 1730, Capt. Moses BuUard, 1781, Lieut. 
William F'uller, 1782. The representative was chosen at 
the May meeting until 183 1, and under the Second Charter, 
which includes the years 171 1 to 1776, he was the only 
official connected with the general government of the Prov- 
ince that was chosen by the people. The election of cer- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 647 

tain County officers by the voters has already been referred 
to. In 1834, 1836, 1837, and 1840 Needham had two 
members of the General Court at one time, but there were 
many earlier years when no representative was chosen, and 
after the formation of the district the other towns included 
in it had each the representative for certain years according 
to an agreement of the local political committees. The 
years given in the list are those for which the member sat, 
without reference to the fact that since 1832 he has been 
elected in November of the previous year. From 1857 to 
1876 Needham with Dover and Medfield formed the Four- 
teenth Norfolk district, but in 1876 the town of Norfolk 
was added and the number of the district was changed to 
the Ninth. In 1886 Millis took the place of Norfolk, and 
in 1906 Needham was separated from Dover, a town with 
which it had many associations and common interests, 
and also from Wellesley, which until 1881 was a part of 
Needham, and was united with Dedham to form the First 
Norfolk district. 

County Commissioner: — Galen Orr, 1872-9. 

Special County Commissioners: — Galen Orr, 1869-71, 
Everett Johnson Eaton, 1889-96 (died in office June 8). 

Commissioner of Insolvency: — Emery Grover, 1877- 
January, 1896, when the office was abolished. 

Deputy-Sheriffs: — Nathaniel Bullard, 1799-1816 (died 
in office November 27, 1816), Nathaniel Bullard, 1816-37 
(died in office March 10, 1837), John Whiting Slack, 1828-34, 
William Wragg, 1893 (August 25)- . 

Assistant Registrar of Probate: — Edwin Manton Grover, 
A.B., LL.B., 1904-died April 28, 1905. 

Trial Justices: — George Keith Daniell, Emery Grover, 
July 31, 1868-June 15, 1898, when he became Judge of 
the District Court of Northern Norfolk. 

The Justices of the Peace to 1846 were: — Capt. Jeremiah 
Fisher, appointed December 19, 1728, October 25, 1737, 
and November 5, 1761, John Fisher, Jr., appointed February 



648 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

21, 1734/5, Ebenezer Fisher, appointed June 21, 1751, 
and November 5, 1761, Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 
25, 1767, Capt. William Faris, Josiah Newell, 1775-89, 
Lieut. William Fuller, 1795-1802, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 
1800- , Dea. Isaac Shepard, 1806-9, Benjamin Slack, 1807- , 
James Ford, 1807- , Capt. Daniel Ware, 1809-19, Enoch 
Fisk, 1814.^-27, Capt. Artemas Newell, 1821-30, Peter 
Lyon, 1821-38, Capt. Elisha Lyon, 1824- , Aaron Smith, 
1826-33, Israel Whitney, 1833- , Amos Allen, no dates. 
Rev. Daniel Kimball, 1835- , Capt. George Smith, 1837- , 
Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 1838- , William Flagg, 1838- , 
Gen. Charles Rice, 1841- , Edgar K. Whitaker, 1843- (of 
the Quorum in 1850), Capt. Reuben Ware, 1845- , Rufus 
Mills, 1846- . 

Coroners: — Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 25, 1767, 
January 30, 1776, and October 17, 1 781, David Smith, Jr., 
i796?-i832, Enoch Fuller, 1809-29, Daniel Ware, 1818-32, 
Rufus Mills, 1 830-9, George K. Daniell 1871 and other years. 

SELECTMEN 

The names of the selectmen of Needham have been printed 

three times, but all of these lists contain errors, as they were 

made up from the records of the annual meetings only. The 

following is intended to be accurate: — 

Deacon Timothy Kingsbery, 1711-18,^ '20, '21, '23, '24, '32, 

'33. '36, '39, '47 (seven- 
teen years). 

Capt. John Fisher, 171 1, '14? '22-6 (seven years). 

John Smith, 1711? '13-16, '18, '20 (seven 

years). 

Benjamin Mills, 171 1? 'i9- 

Capt. Robert Cook, 1711-15, '18-21, '23, '24, '27- 

31, '34. '35, '37, '39-47, 
(twenty-eight years). 

' The years of election only are given and 1712-18 means seven full years, viz., 
from March, 1712 to March, 1719. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



649 



Joseph Daniell, 

Deacon Jeremiah Woodcock, 

Richard Moore, 
Lieut. Thomas Metcalf, 
John Rice, 
Josiah Kingsbery, 

Deacon Eleazer Kingsbery, 



Benjamin Mills, Jr., 
John Smith, Jr., 
Josiah Newell, 
Joseph Hawes, 
Joseph Boyden, 
Joseph Mills, 
Henry Pratt, 

Andrew Dewing, 
Capt. Robert Fuller, 



Ensign Thomas Fuller, 
James Kingsbery, 
William Mills, 
John Fisher, Esq., 
Zachariah Mills, 
Jonathan Huntting, 
John Underwood, 
Jonathan Smith, 
Lieut. Amos Fuller, 



Benoni Woodward, 
Ensign Aaron Smith, 



1712. 

1712-14, '19, '22, '33 (six 

years). 
171 2-14 (three years). 
1714, '15, '18, '23, '27, '30, '3 1. 

1715, '16, '18, '20. 

1716, '17, '20-3, '25, '26, '28, 
'38 (ten years). 

1716, '17, '21, '27, '29-31, '33, 
'36, '39, '41, '46-8 (four- 
teen years). 

1717. 

1717, '19, '22, '24, '26, '28. 
1719, '22, '24, '25. 

1719. 
1721. 
1723. 

1725, '26, '28-31, '34, '35 
(eight years). 

1725, '27. 

1726, '28-32, '34, '35, '37, '39, 
'42, '43, '46-9 (sixteen 
years). 

1727, '29, '39. 

1732, '41, '43- 
1732. 

1732, '36, '38, '45, '47, '50. 

1734. '35, '43, '46, '47, '49- 

1734, '35- 
1736. 

1736, '38, '49. 

1737, '42, '43, '52, '54-8, '60, 
'61, '64, '65, '69 (fourteen 
years). 

1737, '40- 

1737, '40, '42, '44, '47-Si 



6so 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Nathaniel Bullard, 

John Goodenow, 
Jeremiah Fisher, 
Samuel Parker, 
Josiah Newell, Esq., 



Eliakim Cook, 
Joseph Daniell, 
Nathaniel Mann, 
John Alden, 
Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 
Thomas Metcalf, 



Ephraim Ware, Jr., 
Lieut. Robert Fuller, 



Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 



John Mills, 
Ebenezer Skinner, 
Samuel Mackintyre, 
Samuel Daniell, 
Jonathan Smith, 



(elected and declined 1754; 
served nine years). 

1740, '46 (elected and de- 
clined 1732). 

1740. 

1742, '44. '45, '47, '48, '50- 

1744, '45- 

1744/45, '47-51/53, '61, '62, 

'64-6, '69, '74, 'n (de- 
clined in 1754; he served 
sixteen years). 

1750, '51, '59, '^^' 

1751. 

1751- 

1752. 

1752, '54, '59, '62, '70, '73. 

1752-8, '60 (died 1760, Rob- 
ert Fuller was chosen on 
October 20). Metcalf was 
elected and declined on 
March 12, 1759; he served 
eight years. 

1752. 

1753-62, '6t, '68, '70, '72, 

'74, '76-8, '80, '84 (twenty 

years). 

1753, '56-8, '60, '62, '64, 'e^, 

'67, '68, '70, '73 (elected 
and declined on March 12, 
1759; he served twelve 
years). 
1753. 

1754- 

1755-7, '60 (four years). 

1755- 
1758. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Nathaniel Fisher, 



651 



Lemuel Pratt, 
Ephraim Bullard, 
Michael Metcalf, 

Deacon John Fisher, 

Jonathan Deming, 
Timothy Newell, 
Josiah Eaton, 
John Kingsbery, 
Capt. Ephraim Jackson, 
Col. William Mcintosh, 



Seth Wilson, 
Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher, 
Capt. William Smith, 
Lieut. Jonathan Day, 
Amos Fuller, 
Benjamin Mills, 
Lieut. John Bacon, 
Samuel Daggett, 
Josiah Ware, 
Ebenezer Fuller, 
William Fuller, Esq., 



Lieut.-Col. Silas Alden, 

John Slack, 
Lieut. Oliver Mills, 
Thomas Fuller, 
Aaron Smith, Jr., 
Stephen Bacon, 



1759, '62, '73, '74, '-]-], '78, '82, 

'85. 
1 759-63 J '73 (six years). 
1761. 

1763-5, '67, '68, '71, '72 
(seven years). 

1763-5, '68, '75, '81 (six 

years). 
1763. 

1763, '69, '72, 'l^' 

1766, '74. 
1766. 
1766. 

1767, '68, '70, '75, '78, '80, 
'81, '83-5, '91, '92 (twelve 
years). 

1767, '69. 
1769. 

1770, '75, '79- 
1771. 

1771, '72, 'l^, '89, '90- 
1771, '84. 

1771. 

1772 (elected May 21), '79. 

1773- 

1774, '75 

1775-81, '83-6, '88-92, '94-6, 

'98, 1800, '01 (twenty- two 

years). 

1776, '80, '87, '88, '91, '93, 
'97-1802 (twelve years). 

1777, '78. 

1779, '86, '87, '89, '92, '94, '95 

1779, '80. 

1781. 

1781. 



652 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Robert Fuller, Jr., 
Enoch Parker, 
Henry Dewing, 
Eleazer Fuller, 

Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 



Capt. Aaron Smith, 



Jeremiah Daniell, 
Jonathan Smith, 
Dea. Isaac Shepard, 
Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 
Samuel Brown, 
Nathaniel Ware, 
Ebenezer Day, 
Enoch Fisk, Esq., 
Moses Fisk, 
Capt. Josiah Newell, 
Aaron Smith, Esq., 



Capt. Robert Smith, 
Lieut. Jonathan Gay, 
William Farris, 
Dr. Timothy Fuller, 
Col. Moses Mann, 
Samuel Pratt, 
George Fisher, 
Lieut. Moses Garfield, 

Maj. Ebenezer Mcintosh, 



1782, '83, '87, '88, '92. 
1782. 

1782 (May 27). 
1782, '83, '99, 1800-2 (six 
years). 

1782, '90, '93-6, elected and 
declined in 1797, served '98, 
'99, 1800-3 (twelve years). 

1783, '89; Captain Smith had 
been elected in 1781, but 
declined. 

1783. 

1784. 

1784 (May 13). 

1785. 

1785-8 (four years). 

1786. 

1786. 

1787, '88, 1818 (May 14). 

1789. 

1790, '91, '93. 

1790-99, 1 801-4, '08-12, '17, 

'18 (resigned in May), '20, 

'22, '28, '29 (twenty-five 

years). 
1793-5 (three years). 
1796-8 (three years). 
1796, '97. 
1797 (May 11). 
1799, 1800, '04. 
1802. 

1803, '04, '16, '18, '19. 
1803, '04, '06, '08, '12-19 

(twelve years). 
1803-7, '18, '19, '21, '23 

(nine years). 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



653 



Daniel Ware, Esq., 
Royal M-^Intosh, 
Amos Fuller, Jr., 
David Smith, Jr., 
Benjamin Slack, Esq., 

James Smith, 
Dr. Samuel Gould, 
Capt. George Smith, 
Seth Colburn, 

Peter Lyon, Esq., 

Artemas Newell, Esq.. 



Israel Whitney, 
Capt. Reuben Ware, 
Gen. Charles Rice, 
Capt. Ebenezer Fuller, 
Capt. Curtis M'=Intosh, 
Thomas Kingsbury, 
Amraphel Smith, 
Dea. Benjamin Fuller, 
Joseph Newell, 

William Flagg, 



Davis Collins Mills, 
Solomon Flagg, Jr., 

Dexter Ware, 

William Alden Kingsbury, 



1805-16 (twelve years). 

1805, '07. 
1805. 

1 805-1 1 (seven years). 

1806, '19 (May io)-22, '24-6, 
'31 (nine years). 

1 807-1 1 (five years). 

1809-12 (four years). 

1817, '20, '22, '23, '26. 

18 17, '19 (elected and de- 
clined in 1820, '21). 

1817, '20-3, '25, '26, '34 
(eight years). 

1820 (April 3)-3, elected in 
1824 and declined, '26-8, 
'30 (eight years); died in 
office May 23, 1830. 

1824, '34. 

1824-6, '43 (four years). 

1825, '27, '28, '30, '32, '33. 
1827. 

1827, '28. 

1829, '30, '32, '33, '35. 

1829, '31. 

1829, '31. 

1830 (November i)-3 (three 

years and four months). 
183 1-3 (resigned in 1833), '35, 

'36, '44, '45, '52, '59, '60; 
died in office February 16, 
1861. 

1832, '33, '43, '44- 
1833 (April i), '42, '43, '46-9 
(seven years). 

1834, '35. 
1834. 



654 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Tyler Pettee, 
John Smith Bird, 
Col. Warren Dewing, 
Otis Sawyer, 
Michael Mcintosh, 
Reuel Ware, 
Spencer Fuller, 
Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, 
Jonathan Fuller, Jr., 
Emery Fiske, 
William Eaton, 
Capt. William Pierce, 
Moses Garfield, 2d, 
James Smith, 
John Mills, 
Ichabod Bullen, 
Daniel Grant, 
Timothy Newell Smith, 
George Keith Danlell, 
Joslah Howe Carter, 



Galen Orr, 

Charles Curtis Greenwood, 

Nathaniel Wales, Jr., 

George Rowland, 

Silas Gustavus Williams, 

Augustus Stevens, 

Dexter Kingsbury, 

Freeman Phillips, 

James Mackintosh, 



1834. 

1835. 

1835, '36, '45-8 (six years). 

1836, '52-5 (five years). 
1836. 

1836-8 (three years). 

1837, '38. 

1837, '38, '56, '57. 
1837, '53-7 (six years). 
1838-40 (three years). 

1839, '42-4 (four years). 
1839-44, '48, '51 (eight years). 
1839-41 (three years). 

1840, '41. 

1841, '42. 
1842 (April 5). 
1844. 

1849-51 (three years). 

1850, '51. 

1852-4 (three years); he was 
living in 1907 aged ninety- 
six years, and was then still 
active. 

1855, '58-65, '72 (ten years). 

1856, '57. 

1858-60 (three years). 

1858. 

1861-8 (eight years). 

1861-8 (eight years). 

1869, '70, '72. 

1869, '70. 

1870, '75-7, '81, '84 (resigned 
in December, 1884); he 
had then served six years 
lacking less than three 
months. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

72. 



655 



George Spring, 

Edmund Mortimer Wood, 

Hezekiah Fuller, 

Capt. Joseph Emery Fiske, 

William Ritchie Mills, 

Everett Johnson Eaton, 

Mark Lee, 



Lyman Knights Putney, 

Joseph Haven Dewing, 

Enos Houghton Tucker, 

Henry Blackman, 

William Henry Harrison 

M<=Intosh, 
Frederick Pope Glover, 
William Carter, 
Frank Eugene Stedman, 
Thomas Sutton, 
Arthur Whitaker, 
Aaron Twigg, 
Edgar Howard Bowers, 

Francis Llewellyn Fuller, 
William George Moseley, 
George Kuhn Clarke,^ 
Walter Hewitt, 
Charles Elmer Stanwood, 



1871, 

1871. 

1872. 

1873-6 (four years). 

1873, '74. 

1873, '74- 

1875-82 (resigned on May 5, 

1882), '88, '89 (ten years); 

he died in office January 12, 

1890. 

1877 to the division of the 
town in April, 1881. 

1878 to the division (three 
years). 

1881-3, '85, '86 (five years). 
1882 (May 29), '83. 

1882, '83. 

1884-8 (five years). 

1884-7 (four years). 

1887. 

1888-91^ (four years). 

1889-95 (seven years). 

1890-3 (four years). 

1892-4, '97-1900, '02, '04, '05, 

'07, '08 (twelve years). 
1894-6 (three years). 
1895, '96. 
1896. 

1897-1900 (four years). 
1 897-1 900 (four years). 



* On March 5, 1888, the town voted to elect its selectmen and assessors for 
three years, and this vote took effect in 1889, but in 1894 the one-year terms 
were resumed. On March 2, 1903, the three-years term for assessors was again 
adopted. 

' Mr. Clarke was the last selectman chosen from the old Centre, and until the 
election of Austin Potter in 191 1 there had been none for fourteen years from the 
entire western portion of the town. 



656 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Walter Flint Snow, 1901, '03. 

Alfred John Mercer, 1901-3 (three years). 

Joseph Barke Thorpe, 1902-5 (four years). 

Daniel Webster Richards, 1904-6. Mr. Richards was a 

retired business man of 
ability, wide experience, 
and strong character. He 
rendered important service 
to the town, and died Octo- 
ber 4, 1906, while chairman 
of the selectmen. 
William Gorse, 1906. 

John Adams Tilton, 1906-10 (five years). 

William Arthur Probert, 1907- . 

Henry Thomas Childs, 1909- . 

Austin Potter, 191 1- . 

The following were elected, but never served as select- 
men: — Isaac Underwood, 1772, Capt. Moses Bullard, 178 1, 
Lieut. Ephraim Bullard, 1787, Luther Smith, 18 19, Capt. 
Timothy Bullard, 1819. 

The number of selectmen was five from 171 1 to 1845, 
with the exception of the following years: — seven in 1714, 
three in 1733, 1738, 1741 and in 1830, nine in 1747. In the 
early years, apparently to 173 1, the town clerk was ex- 
officio a selectman, but is included in the numbers given. 
Since 1845 there have been three selectmen each year. For- 
merly they received pay only for special services, such as 
perambulating the line, but occasionally the town furnished 
them with toddy, or other drink, at Morse's or Bullard's. 
For example: — on March 10, 1763, 19s., 4d. were granted 
to Landlord Bullard "for Some Entertainment the Select 
men had at his houfe in the Space of a year Pafi:". In the 
seventies the selectmen were paid $300 each per year for 
some years, but James Mackintosh declined all compensa- 
tion, and the writer has the impression that Mr. Mackintosh 
never drew a salary as selectman. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



es7 



Town Clerks : — 
Timothy KIngsbery, 



Richard Moore, 
Josiah Newell, 
Capt. John Fisher, 
Capt. Robert Fuller, 

Thomas Fuller, 
Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, 
Eliakim Cook, 
Thomas Metcalf, 



Lieut. Robert Fuller, 
Moses Fuller, 



Dr. Timothy Fuller, 

Daniel Kingsbery, 

James Smith, 

Daniel Ware, 

Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 

Capt. Jonathan Gay, 

Solomon Flagg, 



Dr. Samuel Gould, 
Dea. Asa Kingsbury, 



Solomon Flagg, 



171 1 (December 4)-i8, '20, 
'21, '23, '24 (eleven years 
and three months). 

1714 (four months). 

1719. 

1722, '25-7 (four years). 

1728-35, '37, '41-3, '46-9 
(sixteen years). 

1736, '38. 

1739, '40, '44- 

1745, '50, '51- 

1752-60 (eight years and 
seven months); he died in 
office October 8, 1760. 

1760 (October 2o)-his death 
May 12, 1788. 

May 12, 1788-96 (nine years); 
he was elected on June 9, 
1788, and at the annual 
meeting on March 14, 1796, 
but declined the latter year. 

1796 (May 9)-8 (three years). 

1799. 

1800. 

1801. 

1802-4 (three years). 

1805-15, '23 (twelve years). 

1816, '17, '22. Mr. Flagg was 
elected in 1820 and de- 
clined. 

1 8 18-21 (four years). 

1824 to his death on August 
17, 1850. 

August 19, 1850 to the di- 
vision of the town April, 



658 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Charles Curtis Greenwood, 



Harrie Sumner Whittemore, 



Thomas Sutton, 



1 88 1 (thirty years and eight 
months). 

April, 1 88 1 to his death on 
June 7, 1897. 

by appointment of the select- 
men June 12, 1897. 

1897 (July i)- . 



The following were elected, but never served as town 
clerk: — Michael Metcalf, March 14, 1763, Robert Fuller, 
May 13, 1793. 



Town Treasurers: 
Capt. Robert Cook, 

Thomas Metcalf, 
Josiah Kingsbery, 

Eleazer Kingsbery, 
Benjamin Mills, Jr., 
Thomas Fuller, 
Timothy Kingsbery, 
Benoni Woodward, 



John Fisher, 

Capt. Robert Fuller, 

Jonathan Parker, 

Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 

Timothy Newell, 



Nathaniel Fisher, 
Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 
Amos Fuller, 



1712, '16, '18, '33-5, '39-45 
(thirteen years). 

1713- 

1714, '19-22, '28-30, '36-8 

(eleven years). 

1715- 
1717. 
1723, '24. 

1725- 

1726; he was also elected in 
March, 173 1/2, but de- 
clined. 

'^l'2'l. '31, '32. 

1746-9 (four years). 

1750-5 (six years). 

1756-63 (eight years). 

1761; he was elected on 
March 9, and excused from 
serving May 21, when Cap- 
tain Kingsbery was again 
chosen. 

1764, '65. 

1766-8 (three years). 

1769-90 (twenty-two years). 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



6S9 



Moses Fuller, 

Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 

Daniel Ware, Esq., 



Capt. Jonathan Gay, 

Aaron Smith, 

Rufus Mills, 

Israel Whitney, Esq., 



William Flagg, Esq., 

Elisha Lyon, Esq., 

Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 

Solomon Flagg, 

Levi Ladd, 

John Morton Harris, 
Thomas Sutton, 

Charles Elmer Stanwood, 



1791, '92. 

1793 to his death October 15, 

1806. 
1806 (November 3)-i8i8 

(eleven years and five 

months). 
1818-21 (four years). 
1822-4 (three years). 
1830 (April 5)-4 (five years). 
1835-7 (three years); he was 

elected in 1830, and de- 
clined. 
1838. 

1839-52 (fourteen years). 
1853 to his death on May 14, 

1859. 
1859 (May) to the division 

of the town. 
1881, '83 to his death on 

August 8, 1905. 
1882. 
1905 (by appointment of the 

selectmen August 12) to 

March, 1906. 
1906- . 



ASSESSORS 

The selectmen were also elected assessors in 1712-32, 
'34-7, '40, '43-8, '51-7, '59-63, '^-j, '68, '71, '72, '82. For 
these years see list of the selectmen. 

The Assessors from 1733 to 191 1 were: — 
Capt. Robert Cook, 17335 '38 (also twenty-five 

years when selectman, 
twenty-seven years in all, 
the longest service to date, 
1911). 



66o 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



John Fisher, Jr., 

Benoni Woodward, 

Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
John Goodanow, 
Ebenezer Skinner, 

Ensign Robert Fuller, 

Amos Fuller, 

Zachariah Mills, 

Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 

CornetTimothyKingsbery, Jr.,1742.^ 



17335 '39 (elected and de- 
clined in 1750). 

1733, '38 (elected in 1741 and 
declined). 

1738. 

1739- 

1739: '50 (June 25), '58 (May 
25). 

1741 (elected and declined in 
1758). 

1741. 

1741. 

1742. 



Peter Edes, 
Ensign Thomas Fuller, 
Dea, Josiah Newell, Esq., 
Eliakim Cook, 
Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 

John Fuller, 
Aaron Smith, Jr., 
Lieut. Robert Fuller, 



Lieut. Jonathan Day, 
Isaac Underwood, 
Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 
William Smith, 
Nathaniel Fisher, 
Robert Fuller, Jr., 

Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 



1742. 

1749 (May 22). 
1749. 
1749. 

1750, '66 (Captain in the 
latter year). 

1750- 

1758 (later Captain), 1787. 

1764, '65 (elected on March 
II, as the selectmen ab- 
solutely refused to serve 
as assessors), '66, '69. 

1764, '66, '69, '73, '75. 

1764. 

1765 (March 11), '70. 

1765 (March 11). 

1769. 

1770, '74-81, '83-9, '92, '96, 
'98 (nineteen years). 

177O5 '74, '77, '80. 



1 The only example in our records of a father and son serving together on the 
board of assessors, and constituting its majority. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



66i 



Michael Metcalf, 



Josiah Upham, 
Joseph Danlell, Jr.,"' 
Capt. Robert Smith, 

Jonathan Kingsbery, Jr., 



Lieut. William Fuller, 

Amos Fuller, 

Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., 
Dea. Isaac Shepard, 



John Slack, 
Moses Fisk, 
Aaron Smith, Jr., 
Lieut. Ephraim Bullard, 
Capt. Josiah Newell, 
Enoch Fisk, 
Moses Fuller, 
Ensign Nathan Dewing, 
Lieut. John Tolman, 
Adj. Daniel Ware, 

Aaron Smith, 



1773, '75, also elected in 1776 
and declined, served in 
1777-9, '81, '83, '84 (eight 
years). 

1773- 

1774- 

1776 (had been elected in 

1758 and declined). 
1776, '78, '79, '82, '86 (Lieu- 
tenant), '90 (Captain)-5, 
'99 (Colonel)-i8o2 (Esq. in 
1801); served fifteen years. 

1777 (December 15), '83, '84, 
'89. 

1780 (June 16), '81, '85, '86, 
'88-90, '93 (eight years). 

1780, '96, 1801. 

1785, '88, '91, '93-5, '97- 
1802, '18 (Esq.); he served 
thirteen years. 

1787. 

1787. 

1787.1 

1790, '97 (Captain). 

1791. 

1792. 

1794. '95- 
1796. 

1797. 

1798, '99, 1 801 (elected on 
September 9), '03. 

1800-2 (not elected till Sep- 
tember 9 in 1801), '04-17, 
'20 (elected 1824 and de- 



' This was undoubtedly "Hawk Aaron". There were five assessors elected 
in 1787 and the town defeated a motion to make the number seven. 



662 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Benjamin Slack, 



George Fisher, 

Royal Mcintosh, 
Capt. Michael Harris, 
Dr. Samuel Gould, 

Nathaniel Ware, 
Enoch Fuller, 
Solomon Flagg, 
Peter Lyon, 
Seth Colburn, 

Maj. Ebenezer Mcintosh, 
Capt. Jonathan Gay, 
Dea. Asa Kingsbury, 



Eleazer Kingsbury, 
Ethel Jennings, 
John Tolman, 
Artemas Newell, Esq., 
Israel Whitney, 



Thomas Kingsbury, 



clined), '25, '26 (Esq. in 
1830, when he was chosen 
but declined), '31 (twenty- 
one years). 
1803, '06 (Esq.), '18-22 (re- 
signed in 1822), '24, '27 
(April 2), '28 (April 7), '31 
(April 12); he served ten 
years. 

1803, '06, '08, '16, '17, '19, '21, 
'23, '26. 

1804, '05. 
1804, '05, '07. 

1807, '08, '12-15, '19? '22 
(September 16) ; eight years. 

1 809-1 1 (three years). 

1809-11, '18 (four years). 

1812-15 (four years). 

1816. 

1817; he was elected in 1827, 
but declined. 

1821. 

1820, '24 (April 5). 

1822, '23, '27, '28, '32-4, '36- 
41 (April 5 in 1841), '43 
(April 3)-50 (twenty-one 
years). 

1822, '25. 

1823. 

1824. 

1825. 

1826 (April 3), '27, '31, '38 
(Esq.); he was also elected 
in 1 83 2, but would not serve. 

1827 (April 2), '28, '30, '34-6 
(resigned in 1836), '37, '38 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



663 



Rufus Mills, 

Dexter Ware, 

William Alden Kingsbury, 
Amraphel Smith, 
Capt. George Smith, 
Capt. Reuben Ware, 
Solomon Flagg, Jr., 



William Flagg, Esq., 
Spencer Fuller, 
Capt. Elisha Lyon, 

Royal Mcintosh, 
Emery Fisk, 
James Smith, 
Davis Collins Mills, 
Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, 

Joslah Howe Carter, 
George Keith Daniell, 

George Jennings, 
George Emerson Eaton, 
Jonathan Avery, 
Silas Gustavus Williams, 
Daniel Morse, 

John Morton Harris, 
Charles Hiram Dewing, 
Charles Curtis Greenwood, 



(Esq.), '41 (April 5), '43-6 
(twelve years). 
1829, '32-4, '39, '42 (six 
years). 

1829, '30, '35, '42; elected 
and declined in 1843. 

1829. 
1830. 
1830 (April s). 

1830, '42. 

1832 (April 2), '33, '36 (April 

11), '45, '57-9. '61-74 
(twenty-one years). 

1835, '46-8, '50-4 (nine years). 

1836. 

1837, elected and declined in 

1 84 1, served in 1844. 
1839. 
1840. 
1840, '43. 
1841. 
1847-52 (resigned in 1852), 

'53-6, '60, '64 (eleven years). 
1849, '51, '52 (elected April 5). 
1852-7, '61-7, '71, '73, '74, 

'77-80 (twenty years). 
1855, '56. 
1857. 

1858, '59, '68, '69, '72. 
1858-60, '70 (four years). 
i860; elected and declined in 

1865. 
1861-3. 
1865. 
1866-81 (sixteen years). In 

1 87 1 he was elected on 



664 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Mark Lee, 

Lyman Knights Putney, 
Dexter Kingsbury, 
Enos Houghton Tucker, 
Isaac Martin Kingsbury, 
George Avery, 
George Kuhn Clarke, 



Everett Johnson Eaton, 
William Henry Harrison 

Mcintosh, 
Edgar Howard Bowers, 

Curtis M'^Intosh, 
Arthur Whitaker, 
Thomas James Grossman, 
Franklin Low, 
George Willard Tisdale, 

John Fisher Mills, 
Robert Edwin Ames, 
Alger Emerson Eaton, 
David Hugh Livingston, 
Henry Thomas Childs, 
James Franklin Ryan, 
Alpheus Packard Boyd, 
Charles Measure, 
Alfred Parker, 
George Lyman Kingsbury, 
Arthur Warren Walkup, 



March 13, and he was also 
electfed for 1882, but de- 
clined. 

1875, '^6. 

1875, ''je. 

1877-80 (four years). 

1 88 1-3 (three years). 

1881-4, '86, '87 (six years). 

1882-4 (three years). 

1884, elected for 1885 and 
declined, '86, '87, '95, '98- 
1900 (seven years). 

1885, '86, '88-91 (six years). 

1885 (March 16). 

1885 (April 29), '88-93 (seven 

years). 
1887. 



1889 (resigned). 

1890-5, 1901 (seven years). 

1892-4, 1 90 1, '02, '04-8 (ten 

years). 
1 894-1 900, '04 (eight years). 
1896, '97. • 
1896, '97. 

1 898-1 90 1 (four years). 
1902. 
1902- . 
1903. 
1903. 
1905-7 (three years). 

1908- . 

1909- . 

Of the assessors who served prior to 1885 only three were 
living in 1907, and they had been the sole survivors for 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 665 

several years: — Josiah H. Carter, ninety-six years old, 
Enos H. Tucker, ninety-three years old, chairman in 1882, 
'83, and George Kuhn Clarke, whose first service was in 1884, 
and who was chairman in 1895, '98-1900 (four years). Mr. 
Carter died September 29, 1907, and Mr. Tucker December 
30, 1907, since which date Mr. Clarke has been the veteran 
among the assessors of Needham. The following were elected 
assessors, but never served: — Jonathan Parker, 1749, 
Jeremiah Fisher, 1749, Col. Charles Rice, 1826, '31 (General), 
Lemuel Mills, Jr., 1828, John Mansfield, 1841, Charles 
M<=Intosh, 1871, Herbert Moseley, 1885. 

Assistant Assessors " to afsist in taking the general 
valuation ": — 

Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., and Joseph Mudge, Jr., both elected 
on September 20, 1784, Lieut. Moses Garfield, 181 1, '13, '30, 
George Fisher, 1811, '22, Capt. Artemas Newell, 1813, 
Aaron Smith, 1821, Capt. Elisha Lyon, 1821, Maj. Eben- 
ezer M°Intosh, 1822, '30, Ethel Jennings, 1822, Israel 
Whitney, 1822, Amraphel Smith, 1830, '31, Dexter Ware, 
1830, '3 1, Capt. Reuben Ware, 183 i,Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 
183 1, '50, William Alden Kingsbury, 1834, '35> '4°? Daniel 
Dedman, 1834, '40, Jonathan Fuller, 1835, Spencer Fuller, 
1835, Otis Sawyer, 1835, '50, Gen. Charles Rice, 1850, 
Capt. William Pierce, 1850. 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

The following is a list of the School Committee from 1826 
to 191 I : — 

Rev. Thomas Noyes, A.M., 1826-36 (eleven years). 
Rev. William Ritchie, A.B., 1826-36, '38, '40 (thirteen 

years). 
Capt. Jonathan Gay, 1826, '27. 

Israel Whitney, 1826. 

Artemas Newell, Esq., 1826, '27. 

Aaron Smith, Esq., 1826, '27. 



ee^ THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Benjamin Slack, Esq., 



Rev. Daniel Kimball, A.M., 



Rufus Mills, 

William Flagg, 
Dexter Ware, 

Capt. Reuel Ware, 

Dr. Josiah Noyes, M.D., 



Solomon Flagg, Jr., 



Isaiah Fisk, 

Elisha Lyon, Esq., 

Richard Boynton, 

Rev. Joseph W^ashburn Ses- 



sions, A.M., 



William Ritchie, Jr., 

Charles Mayo, 

Edgar Kimball Whitaker, 

Moses Winch, 

Nathan Longfellow, A.M., 

Reuben Totman Robinson, 
A.M., 



1826, '27, '30, '32, '34, 

'35. 

1827-36 (resigned), '43-8, 
'50-6 (twenty-three years). 

1828-31, '33-5, '39 (eight 
years). 

1828, '29, '32, '33, '37. 

1828, '29, '37, '40-3 (seven 
years). 

1830. 

1828-36 (resigned), '37, '38, 
'39 (November ii)-44 
(about sixteen years). 

183 1, '45-51, '57-^1, '62 (Oc- 
tober 13), '63 (Novem- 
ber 30), '64, '70-81 (about 
twenty-six years; he was 
also elected for a term of 
three years in 1865 and 
declined). In 1862 he suc- 
ceeded Mr. Conant and in 
1863 Mr. Colcord. 

183 1-4 (four years). 

183 1-3 (three years). 

1832-5 (four years). 

1834-6, '38 (April 3); served 

four years. 
1839 (resigned). 
1839. 

1841, '42, '45. 
1844. 
1845-56, '58-60, '64-6, '70-5 

(twenty-four years). 



1849. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM eS'j 

Rev. William Barrows, A.B., 

later D.D., 1852-5 (four years). 

Luther Allen Kingsbury, 1856, '57, '65 (April io)-8, 

when he resigned (about 

five years). 
Benjamin Gage Kimball, A. B., 1857-62, '64, '65 (resigned 

before March meeting), '67 

(appointed January 7), 

'71-3 (upward of ten years). 
Claudius Buchanan Patten, 1861-3 (resigned).^ 
Marshall Conant, A.M., 1862 (resigned after serving 

seven months), 
John Moore Colcord, 1 863 ; died November 13,1 863 } 

Rev. Frederick Augustus Wil- 

lard, A.M., 1863 (resigned that autumn). 

Rev. Edward Sumner Atwood, 

A.M., later D.D., 1863 (appointed May 5 vice 

Mr. Patten).! 
Rev. Adiel Harvey, 1863 (appointed November 

30 vice Mr. Willard). 
Jonathan Battles, 1865-7 (resigned in his third 

year of service). 
Hon. George White, A.M., 

LL.B., 1867 (resigned). 



Rev. George Gardner Phipps, \\ 

Hon. Emery Grover, 1868, vice Judge White, '69, 

'^6 (April 3)-8i, '84-95, 
1902-4 (twenty-three years 
during which he was chair- 
man eighteen). 

* Mr. Patten lived for some years in the Lower Falls district; from 1 866 to 
1886 he was cashier of the State National Bank of Boston. Mr. Colcord had been 
an usher in the Phillips School, Boston, from September I, 1844, until his death, 
which was after an illness of three days. His home was where Nathaniel Wales 
resides, but there are few people now in Needham who recall him. He was 
born in Effingham, N. H., and was forty-three years old when he died. Mr. Atwood 
was a member of the school committee in Salem for eleven years subsequent to 
his being in Needham. 



668 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 



Rev. William Brooks Greene, 

A.B., 1868-70 (three years). 

Rev. Elihu Parish Marvin, 

D.D., 1869. 

Merrill Norton Boyden, 1869 (April 5), '70. 

Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, 



A.M., 
Gamaliel Bradford, A.B., 

Henry Blatchford Scudder, 
William Ritchie Mills, 
Miss Charlotte Kingsbury, 
Mrs. Harriet (Chase) May, 

Edward La Croix, 
Isaac Hills Hazelton, M.D., 
Hon. Joseph Emery Fiske, 
A.M., 

Mrs. Maria Louise Ford, 
John Morton Harris, 
Mrs. Josephine Clarinda (Alex 
ander) Page, 

William Carter, 

Mrs. Adeline Eaton Harris, 



1870, '71. 

1870-5 (six years, resigned 

April 3, 1876). 
1871-3 (three years). 
1872-4 (three years). 
1874-6 (three years). 
1874-9 (resigned October i, 

1879). 
1875-7 (three years). 
1875. 

1876 to the division of the 
town in 1881. 

1877 to the division. 
1878-83 (six years). 

1879-87 (resigned); she was 
appointed October i, 1879. 
1882-93 (twelve years). 
1887 (appointed October 24 
vice Mrs. Page); she re- 
signed on March 6, 191 1, 
having served more than 
twenty-three years. 
John Wesley Titus, 1894-9 (six years). 

Francis de Maurice Dunn, A. B. ,1896-1901 (six years). 
James Benjamin Lester, 1900-2 (three years). 

Horace Albert Carter, I903~ • 

William George Moseley, 1905^ • 

Mrs. Susan Welles Fiske, 191 1- . 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 669 

The following were elected to the school board, but never 
served: — William Clark, 1838, Charles Blanchard Dana, 
1865, Clough Rice Miles, A.B., 1869. 

The first election for three years was in 1858. On March 7, 
1870, the board was increased to six, but has been three 
since the division of the town in 1881. In 1904 and in 1910 
attempts were made to resume electing a committee of six. 



Consitaftlcsi 

The constables were very important officers from the 
first settlement of Massachusetts and had many duties and 
small pay. It was difficult to find responsible men who were 
willing to serve, consequently the great number who were 
elected and excused, or fined for refusing to serve, or who 
asked the town to accept a hired substitute. In the latter 
case, when the town took favorable action, it often required 
that the man excused should give a bond that his substi- 
tute should faithfully perform his duties, particularly as a 
collector of taxes. In Needham the taxes were divided, as 
equally as was convenient, between the constables for the 
East and West parts of the town respectively. In the 
special rate made on January 24, 1732/3, for "Reliveing" 
a poor woman and her child, Constable William Chub, 
East, had £21, 4s. committed to him by the assessors, and 
Constable Timothy Bacon, West, had £20, is., 4d. The 
tax levy for the minister's salary for 1771 was divided be- 
tween the constables as follows: — Josiah Ware £49, 6s., 
5§d., Moses Bullard £58, 13s., 6§d. It was many years 
before the collector of taxes was an official distinct from the 
constables. By the law of 1640 the constables were required 
to collect the taxes, and by that of 1646 they were to carry 
black staves five or five and one half feet long, tipped with 
brass for five or six inches. The law of 1646 was amended 
in 1675 by specifying when they could act officially without 
having their staves with them. In 1653 the fine for refusing 
to serve was increased from twenty shillings to £10 for the 
town of Boston and to £5 for the other towns, and remained 
£5 during the Provincial period. The law of 1658 defined 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 671 

the very numerous duties, criminal and civil, of the con- 
stables under twenty-six headings, and In 1668 their respon- 
sibilities were extended to looking after the education of the 
young, and to enforcing the laws as to Industry. The con- 
stables were obliged to be sworn promptly, and In case of 
failure to pay the fine It was the duty of the town treasurer 
to prosecute In the Court of General Sessions of the Peace 
the Individual who refused to serve, and this was occasionally 
done In Needham as late as 1777. The law of 1692 exempted 
certain persons from serving as constables, and also pro- 
vided that no person should be obliged to serve oftener 
than one year In seven; failure to warn a town meeting 
subjected the offending constable to a fine of twenty shillings. 

The constables from 1712 to 1714 were: — Benjamin 
Mills, 1712, Ebenezer Ware, 1713, Thomas Fuller, 1714, 
Matthias Ocklnton, 1714. 

Although the constables were Important officers, and It 
was the Intention of the author to give complete lists of the 
minor town officers to 1776, It seems hardly worth while 
to name the one hundred men who followed Mr. Ocklnton 
from 171 5 to 1776, for the following reasons: — Most of 
those elected got excused If they could, or Induced the town 
to accept a hired substitute, or simply refused to serve, and 
in some instances were prosecuted and fined. During this 
period, 1715-76, nearly every reliable man in town was 
elected constable more than once, but the majority served 
only one year, and William Chub, prominent as a con- 
stable. Is the solitary individual who served more than three 
years. Mr. Chub was constable for the whole town in 
1743. All sorts of devices were resorted to in order to escape 
holding this office. A favorite method was to promise to 
serve the next year, or at some future time, and in 1735 
John Pain pledged himself to take care of the meeting-house 
from April, 1735 to April, 1736, if he was excused from 
serving as constable. The town accepted his offer, but he 
was a failure as a janitor, not doing "as he has undertook". 



672 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

In 1747 Nathaniel Tolman and Henry Dewing were suc- 
cessively chosen for the East, but persuaded the town to 
accept young Ezeklel Richardson as a hired man ("attyered 
man"), "provided he will Bring Good Bonds men for fuer- 
ties for His paying the Rates that he fhall Have to Colect". 
Much time was consumed by the town in securing men to 
serve as constables, and the preparation of the list of those 
who actually did serve proved a severe task. 

It does not appear that any of the old-time constables 
made a special impression on the community except William 
Gilbert Jones, usually known as William Jones, who was a 
brave and efficient officer. He was first elected in 1842 
and served for many years, a portion of the time as sole 
constable of the town, an unusual distinction. His greet- 
ing to delinquent poll-tax payers "Money or Dedham" 
is a familiar tradition, and his fight with the stalwart black- 
smith in West Needham has often been described. Mr. 
Jones is said to have remarked on this occasion "Hell 
or Dedham". Mrs. Caroline Wells Healey Dall never for- 
gave him for presenting the doctor's bill to her husband, 
then minister of the First Church, and compelling the 
reverend gentleman to pay it, in violation of all prerogatives, 
the fact that the physician was not a Unitarian, but an 
Orthodox, having no bearing upon the case. The doctor 
was careless about collecting, and his wife, wishing some 
money, gave a batch of bills to Constable Jones, including 
one made out to Mr. Dall. The doctor disclaimed all 
responsibility for his wife'^ disrespect for the clergyman, 
but it does not appear that Mr. Dall got the money 
back. 

Bill Burrill, 2d, constable nine years, and special police 
as late as the seventies, was another courageous and com- 
petent officer, but they were few in number in his time, and 
it is probable that the majority of the constables were chiefly 
anxious to avoid trouble, and were no more disposed to 
do police duty, or fitted for it, than some men that the 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 673 

writer has known, but who were nominally constables, or 
policemen. 

Mr. Burrill was a good man and a worthy citizen, who 
served the town for twenty-six years as fireward, two years 
as auditor, two years as highway surveyor, and as a police- 
man during the construction of the Sudbury River conduit. 
He and his uncle. Bill Burrill, Senior, a veteran of the War 
of 18 12, and a near neighbor of the writer, were both annoyed 
all their lives by uninformed people who addressed them by 
the name of William. The elder Bill Burrill was presented 
with a watch inscribed incorrectly, and probate officials 
and others insisted upon having this Christian name wrong. 
The name of Bill came into the Burrill family in consequence 
of one of them marrying into the Bill family of Essex County. 

POLICE 

From the time of the Civil War, or earlier, special police 
were appointed in Needham for a year, or as occasion re- 
quired, but in the seventies and eighties there was practi- 
cally no police service in town except on the Fourth of July, 
and at periods when disturbances were anticipated, as during 
the construction of the Sudbury River conduit. On Sep- 
tember 15, 1893, the town passed a resolution favoring night 
police, as the result of the supposed presence on the Great 
Plain of a "fire bug", and consequently a night watchman 
was assigned to duty. In 1895 a night police was appointed 
for Highlandville, and two years later a man was given even- 
ing duty at the Upper Falls. As the town grew, and became 
the terminus of several street railways, the amount of day 
service was increased, and it has usually been efficient. In 
191 1 there were no less than twenty-four police officers in 
Needham, but some of them were appointed to protect 
particular estates, and received no pay from the town. 
The appropriation in 1895 was $1400 and the fines, a total 
of $1592.80, in 1905 $3000, in 1906 $3400, 1910 $3300. 
From 1882 to 1900, inclusive, William Wragg, now deputy- 



674 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

sheriff, was one of the constables and was also a police officer, 
rendering valuable service. His brother, George E. Wragg, 
was for several years an active and well-known officer, and 
was the first regular night policeman. In 191 1 Norman 
M'^Kenzie, night police at the modern centre of the town, 
and Armand J. Mathey, both brave and capable men, have 
served the town as police for more than a dozen years. Mr. 
Mathey's duties are partly as day officer on the Great Plain, 
but he is always to be depended upon when police protec- 
tion is desired in other portions of the town. 
The following lists give the names of the 

MINOR TOWN OFFICERS 

from 171 1 to 1776, inclusive. 

Overseers of the Poor to 1776: — Amos Fuller, 1751, '52 
(May 2i)-4 (three years, ten months), Jonathan Smith, 
1751, '52 (died in 1752), James Smith, 1751, '52, Ebenezer 
Skinner, 1752, '53, '55, Nathaniel Man, 1753, '54, Henry 
Dewing, 1754, '55, '57, '60, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1755, 
'57? '58, Jonathan Parker, 1756, John Fisher, Jr., 1756, '58, 
'59, John Kingsbery, 1757, '61, David Smith, 1757, Jere- 
miah Woodcock, 1757, John Bird, 1758, Benjamin Mills, 
1758, Joseph Danlell, 1759, William Brown, 1759, William 
Alden, 1760, Seth Wilson, 1760, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 
1761, Jesse Kingsbery, 1761. 

Wardens: — Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1761, Ebenezer Fuller, 
1761, Isaac Underwood, 1762, Josiah Eaton, 1762, Timothy 
Newell, 1762, Joseph Drury, 1763, Ensign Ellakim Cook, 

1763, Nathaniel Fisher, 1763, Moses Fisk, 1764, John Alden, 

1764, Benjamin Mills, 1764, Samuel Danlell, 1765, James 
Man, 1765, Isaac Goodenow, 1765, William Smith, 1766, 
Samuel Huntting, 1766, Ensign John Bacon, 1766, Lieut. 
Jonathan Day, 1767 (he had been chosen in 1765 and de- 
clined), Stephen Bacon, 1767, William Mills, 1767, Capt. 
Lemuel Pratt, 1768, Samuel Greenwood, 1768, Ebenezer Skin- 
ner, 1768, Jesse Kingsbery, 1769, Silas Alden, 1769, Ebenezer 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 675 

Ware, 1769, Ebenezer Newell, 1770, Joseph Danlell, Jr., 
1770, Thomas Broad, 1770, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1771, Ebenezer 
Clark, 1771, John Ayers, 1771, Ensign Timothy Kingsbery, 
1772, Thomas Fuller, 1772, Moses Fisk, 1772-4 (three 
years), Ellsha Mills, 1773, Samuel Kelton, 1773, Samuel 
Ware, 1774, Robert Smith, 1774, Stephen Bacon, Jr., 1774, 
Lieut. Moses BuUard, 1775, Eleazer Fuller, 1775, Jeremiah 
Daniell, 1775, Ephraim Pain, 1775, Samuel Alden, 1776, 
Josiah Newell, Jr., 1776, Benjamin Ward, 1776, John Slack, 
1776, David Mills, 1776, Samuel Huntting, 1776. 

The following were elected, but were excused and never 
served: — Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1764, Ensign John 
Bacon, 1764, Robert Smith, 1768, Lieut. Aaron Smith, 1768. 

Surveyors of Highways, 1712-76: — Jonathan Parker, 
1712, '13, Samuel Parker, 1712, '28, '35, Josiah Kingsbery, 
1712, Christopher Smith, 1712, '20, '23, Samuel Mills, 1712, 
Joseph Haws, 17 13, Joseph Boyden, 171 3, '29, George Robin- 
son, 1713, Capt. John Fisher, 1714, '18, '20, '22, Jonathan 
Dewing, 1714, "Sargeant" Joseph Daniell, 1714, '19, '20, 
James Kingsbery, 1714, '18, '21, '30, Eleazer Kingsbery, 
1714, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller, 1715, '19, '25, '33 (En- 
sign in 1733), Benjamin Mills, Sr., 1715, Joseph Mills, 1715, 
'17, '19, '32, '37, Lieut. Robert Cook, 1715, '33 (Captain), 
Josiah Newell, 1715, Ebenezer Ware, 1716, '17, '27, '29, 
John Fisher, Jr., 1716, '19, '34, '46 (Captain in 1746), Heze- 
kiah Broad, 1716, '21, '25, Nathaniel BuUard, 1716, Ephraim 
Ware, Sr., 1717, '23, Andrew Dewing, 1717, John Woodcock, 
1717, '31 (May 18), '35, '36, '41, Joseph Barber, 1718, '20, 
'26, '31, '35, '37, Daniel Pratt, 1718, Jonathan Smith, 1721, 
'40, '43, '44, Samuel Wilson, 1721, '26, John Rice, 1722, 
Henry Dewing, 1723, '29, '30, Samuel Bacon, 1723, Jere- 
miah Gay, 1724, '37, '43, '44, Aaron Smith, 1724, '35, 
Israel Mills, 1724, Nathaniel Ware, 1725, '36, '45, William 
Cook, 1725, Benoni Woodward, 1726, '32, Isaac Mills, 1726, 
'35, '42 (December 27, vice John Parker), Samuel Smith, 
1727, '28, John Underwood, 1727, '29, Peter Edes, 1727, 



e'je THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

'36, '43, Edmund Dewing, 1727, Robert Ware, 1728, '33, 
'55, Timothy Bacon, 1728, Jeremiah Fisher, 1728, '30, 
William Chub, 1729, '40, John Alden, 173 1, '37, '39, '44, '55, 
Jeremiah Haws, 1732, David Fuller, 1732, Nathaniel Ayers, 
1733, '37, John Mackentire, 1734, '38, '39, Timothy Kings- 
bery, Jr., 1734, '38, '48, Samuel Bacon, Jr., 1734, '43, Joseph 
Daniell, 1734, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1735, '42, John Goldsberry, 
1736, Jonathan Parker, 1736, '40, '45, '49, Lieut. Andrew 
Dewing, 1736, '41, Josiah Eaton, 1737, '65, Jeremiah Wood- 
cock, Jr., 1738, Nathaniel Man, 1738, '44, '46, Dea. Timothy 
Kingsbery, 1739, John Goodanow, 1739, Ebenezer Skinner, 
1739, Amos Fuller, 1740, '59 (Lieutenant in 1759), Jonathan 
Gay, 1741, '43, '44, John Ockinton, 1741, John Parker, 1742 
(died October 13), John Pain, Jr., 1742 (September 6), '45, 
William Alden, 1742, '46, '61, Josiah Upham, 1742, John 
Fisher, Jr., 1743 (May 16), '44, ^GG^ Samuel Huntting, 1744, 
Jesse Kingsbery, 1745, '65, Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1745, Samuel 
Daniell, 1746, '48, '57, '64, '74, Christopher Smith, 1746, 
Abraham Ireland, 1746, '47, Samuel Bacon, 1747, Samuel 
Mackentire, 1747, '69, Joshua Smith, 1747, Jonathan Dem- 
ing, 1747, '73, David Mills, 1748, Hezekiah Gay, 1748, '60, 
Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1748, '60, '70, Ebenezer Fisher, 1749, 
Jacob Mills, 1749, '50, Robert Cook, Jr., 1749, Nathaniel 
Tolman, 1749, '55, Nathaniel Fisher, 1750, '51, ''G']^ Thomas 
Pain, 1750, William Mills, Jr., 1750, Jeremiah Eaton, 175 1, 
^6(i^ Ithamar Smith, 175 1, William Brown, 175 1, '57, '59, 'G(y, 
Samuel Chub, 175 1, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1752, Samuel 
Richards, 1752, Josiah Reed, 1752, David Smith, 1752, 
Seth Wilson, 1752, '55, '58, '59, 'Gs, Stephen Huntting, 1752, 
Jeremiah Dewing, 1753, Theophilus Richardson, 1753, 
Abraham Chamberlain, 1753, Lemuel Pratt, 1753, ''G'j (Cap- 
tain in lyGj), '72 (June 9), Ephraim Ware, 1753, Josiah 
Dewing, 1754, '56, John Mills, 1754, Josiah Woodward, 
1754, '60, John Simpson, 1754, Joseph Mackintire, 1754, 
Ebenezer Huntting, 1 75 5, John Fuller, 1756, '66, Ephraim Bul- 
lard, 1756, '57, '66, Eliphalet Kingsbery, 1756, '57, '73 (May 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM e^j 

19), John Bird, 1756, Nathaniel Ware, Jr., 1757, '69, Samuel 
Daggett, 1757, '72, '73, Joseph Mudge, 1758, Reube Dun- 
ton, 1758, Ebenezer Dewing, 1758, '59, Ebenezer Ware, Jr., 
1758, Eliakim Cook, 1760, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1761, '62, 
John Ayers, 1761, '65, Timothy Newell, 1761, '62, Nathaniel 
Blackinton, 1761, Benjamin Mills, 1762, David Hall, 1762, 
'68, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1762, James Parker, 1763, Josiah 
Upham, Jr., 1763, '71, John Kingsbery, 1763, James Man, 
1763, '69, Isaac Goodenow, 1763, Ebenezer Fuller, 1764, 
Capt. Ephraim Jackson, 1764, '68, Ensign John Bacon, 1764, 
William Mills, 1764, '75, Samuel Greenwood, 1764, Elisha 
Mills, 1765, '74, Joseph Drury, 1765, Thomas Hall, 1766, 
'74, Oliver Mills, 1766 (May 22), '70, '74, Amos Fuller, Jr., 
1767, Timothy Dwight, 1767, Daniel Gould, 1767, Lieut. 
Samuel Townsend, 1768, '73, Ebenezer Ware, 1768, Amos 
Mills, 1768, Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher, 1768, Samuel Ware, 
1768 (May 18), '69, '75, Benjamin Davenport, 1769, Joseph 
Hawes, 1769, John Bacon, 1769, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1770, 
'72, Thomas Fuller, Jr., 1770, ''jG (no Jr. in 1776), Henry 
Dewing, 1770, John Bacon, Jr., 1770, Lieut. William Mack- 
intash, 1771, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., 1771, Josiah Newell, 
Jr., 1771, Thomas Broad, 1771, Eleazer Fuller, 1771, Eliakim 
Cook, Jr., 1771, Ephraim Stevens, 1772, ^'j6^ Michael Bacon, 

1772, Samuel Alden, 1772, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1772 (May 
28), John Bacon, Jr., 1772, Silas Alden, 1773, Isaac Bacon, 

1773, Jeremiah Daniell, 1773, Ebenezer Clark, 1773, Jona- 
than Kingsbery, 1774, Jonathan Gay, 1774, John Smith, 

1774, William Leverett, 1775, ^'jd^ Moses Kingsbery, 1775, 
Josiah Newell, Esq., 1775, Ezra Mills, 1775, Benjamin Ward, 

1775, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 1776, John Slack, 1776, 
Timothy Fisher, 1776, Moses Fisk, 1776, Lieut. Moses 
Bullard, 1776. 

The following surveyors were also elected but excused: — 
Nathaniel Bullard, 1726, '30, Eleazer Kingsbery, 1727, 
Zachariah Mills, 1730, Henry Dewing, 173 1, Jeremiah 
Fisher, 173 1, Ebenezer Newell, 1737, Samuel Parker, 1741, 



678 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

John Woodcock, 1743, Robert Ware, 1743, Jonathan Hunt- 
ting, 1743, Samuel Bacon, 1744, Eliaklm Cook, 1748, 
Timothy Newell, 1750, Ebenezer Fisher, 1752, Joseph 
Daniell, Jr., 1761, '68, '72, Daniel Bacon, 1763, John Ayers, 
1768. 

Tythingmen, 1712-76: — John Parker, 1712, Ephraim 
Ware, 1713, Benjamin Mills, Sr., 1714, Jonathan Parker, 
1715, '18, '19, Sergeant Joseph Daniell, 1716, '18, Joseph 
Haws, 1716, '24, '25, John Smith, Jr., 1717, Joseph Boyden, 
1717, '20, Jeremiah Woodcock, 1718, '24, '34, Eleazer 
Kingsbery, 1719, Sergeant Thomas Metcalf, 1720, Samuel 
Parker, 1721, '23, '37, John Rice, 1721, Christopher Smith, 
1722, Samuel Bacon, 1722, '30, '53, Samuel Wilson, 1723, 
'29, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1725, Joseph Mills, 1726, Zach- 
ariah Mills, 1726, '38, '40, '46 (Lieutenant in 1746), Heze- 
kiah Broad, 1727, '28, Daniel Pratt, 1727, '28, '46, Josiah 
Newell, 1729, '35, '38, '41, John Smith, 1730, Andrew Dew- 
ing, 173 1 (excused), Thomas Fuller, Jr., 173 1, Peter Edes, 
173 1, '45, '47 (Ensign in 1747), Israel Mills, 1732, John 
Underwood, 1733, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf, 1734, Nathaniel 
Bullard, 1735, '37, Joseph Barber, 1736, William Chub, 
1736, '41, '43, Stephen Bacon, 1739, James Smith, 1739, 
James Kingsbery, 1740, '45, John Woodcock, 1742, Josiah 
Ware, 1742, '50, '62, ''Gj^ David Mills, 1743, '47, Jonathan 
Parker, 1744, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1744, Samuel Huntting, 
1748 (the town refused to excuse him), 1763 (excused), 
'64, Nathaniel Tolman, 1748, Jonathan Smith, 1748, '49, 
Isaac Mills, 1749 (declined), Timothy Newell, 1749, '52, 
Ebenezer Fisher, 1750, '51, '53, '56, William Mills, Jr., 
1751, '54, '56, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1752, Stephen Hunt- 
ting, 1754, '60, Jonathan Smith, 1755, '72, John Simpson 
1755, Samuel Daniell, 1756, '68, Nathaniel Fisher, 1757, 
'70, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1757, Samuel Mackentire, 1758, 
'59, '63, '68, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1758, ''65, Josiah Woodward, 
1758, William Alden, 1758, John Kingsbery, 1759, '64, '69, 
Samuel Daggett, 1760, Reuben Dunton, 1761, John Mills, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 679 

1761, William Smith, 1762, Ebenezer Skinner, 1763, Joseph 
Daniell, 1765, Benjamin Whitney, 1766, Thomas Pain, 
1766, '74, Silas Alden, 1767, '71, '72, John Ayers, 1768, 
Benjamin Mills, 1769, Thomas Hall, 1769, Aaron Smith, 
Jr., 1770, John Alden, 1770, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1771, 
Isaac Underwood, 1771, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1772, 
Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1773, Ebenezer Clark, 1773, Nathaniel 
Tolman, 1773, Ephraim Stevens, 1774, Samuel Fisher, 1774, 
Oliver Mills, 1775, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1775, Samuel Huntting, 
1775, Ensign Eliakim Cook, 1776, Jonathan Deming, 1776, 
Ebenezer Newell, 1776; all three sworn in 1776. 

Field Drivers, 1712-76: — John Gill, 1712, Andrew Wat- 
kins, 1712, '13, Jonathan Smith, 1713, '15, '20, '23, '27, '29, 
'33, Nathaniel Bullard, 1713, '23, William Mills, 1713, 
Andrew Dewing, 1714, Samuel Wilson, 1714, '20, Ebenezer 
Mills, 1715, Jeremiah Gay, 1715, '21, '27-9, '31, '33, '42 
(seven years), Christopher Smith, 1716, Henry Dewing, 
1716, Robert Cook, Jr., 1720, John Woodcock, 1721, '39, 
Edmund Dewing, 1722, '24, Ebenezer Mills, 1722, Joseph 
Barber, 1724, '38, '48, Jonathan Gay, 1725, Robert Ware, 
1725, '37, Joseph Haws, Jr., 1726, Nathaniel Tolman, 1726, 
Isaac Mills, 1728, '41, '42, '45, '47, Jeremiah Hawes, 173 1, 
'35, '44, Hezekiah Kingsbery, 1732, '39, John Fuller, 1732, 
Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1734, Robert Prentice, 1734, 
Josiah Broad, 1735, Isaac Gill, 1736, John Parker, 1736, 
'40, Ebenezer Skinner, 1737, '46, '47, Nathaniel Ayers, 1738, 
'40, Thomas Kinch, 1741, '43, '^4, James Parker, 1741, 
John Ocklnton, 1742, Jeremiah Fisher, 1743, Stephen Hunt- 
ting, 1743, '48, William Alden, 1745, Jesse Kingsbery, 1746, 
'55, Jonathan Mills, 1747, John Pain, Jr., 1748, Jonathan 
Deming, 1749, '55, William Smith, 1749, '59 (May 24), 
'64, Hezekiah Gay, 1750, Nathaniel Tolman, 1750, ''^^^ 
Christopher Smith, 175 1, '60, Jacob Mills, 1751, Samuel 
Daniell, 1752, '61, '62, Ebenezer Huntting, 1752, '62, 
Ellphalet Kingsbery, 1753, Ephraim Bullard, 1753, '54, 
Jeremiah Dewing, 1754, '56, Solomon Dewing, 1756, '58, 



68o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Robert Smith, 1757, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1757, Joshua 
Parker, 1757, Nathaniel Fisher, 1758, Ebenezer Fuller, 
1759, ^66 (perhaps did not serve as he was not sworn), 
Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1759, Samuel Ware, 1760, '61, 
^yG, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1763, '71, Nathaniel Kingsbery, 
1763, '65, Moses Kingsbery, 1764, '68, '69, Reuben Dunton, 
1765, David Smith, 1766, Elisha Mills, 1766 (May 22), 
Samuel Daggett, 1767, '68, Silas Alden, 1767, Aaron Smith, 
Jr., 1768, Moses Bullard, 1768, Oliver Mills, 1769, Amos 
Mills, 1769, Jonathan Gay, 1769, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1770, 
'74, '75, Ebenezer Ware, 1770, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1770, 
Nathaniel Fisher, 1771, Thomas Fuller, 1771, Eleazer Fuller, 

1772, Ebenezer Clark, 1772, Thomas Hall, 1772, David 
Ockinton, 1773, Henry Dewing, 1773, '76, John Ayers, 

1773, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1774, John Bacon, Jr., 1774, 
Moses Fisk, 1775, Aaron Pain, 1775, Nathaniel Tolman, 
1776, Samuel Ware, 1776. 

There appears to be no record of the election of field 
drivers in 1717, 1718 and in 1719. 

Fence Viewers, 1712-76: — Thomas Fuller, 1712, '30 
(Ensign, declined), Thomas Metcalf, 1712, '26, John Smith, 
Jr., 1713, '16, '19, '29, Joseph Daniell, 1713, '14 (Sergeant), 
'16, '17, '19, Joseph Mills, 1713, '16, '25, '31, Sergeant John 
Smith, 1714, John Parker, Sr., 1715, Ephraim Ware, Sr., 
1715, '28, Joseph Boyden, 1716, '22, '26, James Kingsbery, 

1717, William Mills, 1717, Robert Fuller, 1717, John Fisher, 

1718, '20, Nathaniel Bullard, 1718, '22, John Rice, 1718, '24, 
Samuel Bacon, 1718, '21, '38, Samuel Wilson, 1719, '25, 
Joseph Barber, 1719, '27, Josiah Newell, 1720, '31, Chris- 
topher Smith, 1720, Nathaniel Tolman, 1720, '27 (excused), 
Ebenezer Ware, 1721, '27, Jeremiah Gay, 1723, Joseph 
Haws, 1723, '29, '30, '32, Matthew Tambling, 1724, Peter 
Edes, 1728, Robert Ware, 1730 (May 18, vice Thomas 
Fuller), '42 (September 6), '49, Jonathan Smith, 1732, '34, 
'35, '39-42, '44-7, '50 (twelve years), Edmund Dewing, 1733, 
Jeremiah Fisher, 1733, '36, Henry Dewing, 1734-6, '39-42, 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 68 1 

'47, '48 (nine years), John Pain, 1737, Ebenezer Skinner, 
1738, '46, '47, William Chub, 1742, Robert Fuller, Jr., 

1743, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1743, Jonathan Huntting, 

1744, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1745, '46, Josiah Ware, 1748, 
Samuel Mackentire, 1749, Amos Fuller, 1749 (declined), 
Jonathan Deming, 1750, Samuel Danlell, 175 1, '58, '61, '62, 
'71, Josiah Dewing, 175 1, Josiah Woodward, 1752, John 
Edes, 1752, Christopher Smith, 1753, '55, '62, Hezekiah 
Gay, 1753, 'S7, William Smith, 1754, '56, '6y, Aaron Smith, 
Jr., 1754, '67, '69, '70, '72, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1755, Amos 
Fuller, Jr., 1756, '58, Jonathan Smith, 1757, David Smith, 
1758, '60, William Mills, Jr., 1759, Josiah Eaton, 1759, 
Samuel Daggett, 1760, Ebenezer Huntting, 1761, '64, 
Ebenezer Ware, Jr., 1763, Jacob Parker, 1763, Isaac Under- 
wood, 1763, Ebenezer Fuller, 1763, '65, ^66, '69, '70-2, '74, 
^76 (nine years), Josiah Upham, Jr., 1764, Thomas Hall, 
1764, '75, '76, John Bird, 1765, '66, Thomas Broad, 1766 
(May 22), Ebenezer Ware, 1767, Stephen Huntting, 1768, 
Nathaniel Fisher, 1768, James Man, 1768, Elisha Mills, 
1769, '70, Moses Bullard, 1769, '70, Jonathan Smith, 1771, 
Thomas Fuller, 1771, '73, '76, William Fuller, 1772, William 
Smith, 1772, Aaron Smith, 1773, Robert Smith, 1773, Na- 
thaniel Ware, 1774, Moses Fisk, 1774, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 
1775, Silas Alden, 1775 (vice Ebenezer Ware), Benjamin 
Mills, 1776. 

Committee to Reckon with the Town Treasurer 171 2- 
76: — Sergeant John Smith, 1727, Josiah Kingsbery, 1727, 
Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Thomas Metcalf and Eleazer 
Kingsbery were chosen on March 10, 1728/9, to reckon 
with the "two Late Trefuerers", and the town clerk, Capt. 
Robert Fuller, was added to the committee on May 14, 1729, 
Capt. Robert Cook, 1730 (chosen on January 27, 1730/1), 
Andrew Dewing, 1730, '32, Thomas Metcalf, 1730, Nathaniel 
Bullard, 1732, Zachariah Mills, 1732, Jonathan Smith, 
1732, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1732 (those chosen on March 
I, 173 1/2, doubtless audited the accounts of the year then 



682 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

just completed), William Mills, James Smith and Jeremiah 
Woodcock were chosen on March lo, 1734/5, to reckon with 
former town treasurers, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 1736-9, 
'43, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1736-9, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
1736-8, Capt. John Fisher, 1739, Samuel Parker, 1743, '44, 
Jeremiah Fisher, 1743, '46, '47, '49, Amos Fuller, 1744, '46, 
'47, Jonathan Parker, 1744, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1746, '47, 
'49, '60, '66; he was Deacon in 1749. The committee chosen 
on May 19, 1746, was to reckon with former town treasurers. 
If an auditing committee was elected every year the fact 
does not appear in the records. To continue the list: — 
Aaron Smith, 1749, '73, Jonathan Smith, Dea. Josiah New- 
ell and James Smith were chosen on June 25, 1750, to reckon 
with Capt. Robert Fuller, late treasurer. Ensign Eliakim 
Cook, 1753, '60, '63 (committee chosen September 12), 
Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1753, '66 (Captain), '68, '69 (no 
" Juni"), '71, '74, Jonathan Deming, 1753, Timothy Newell, 
1754, '58, Dea. John Fisher, 1754, '58, Ebenezer Skinner, 
1754, '58, Hezekiah Gay, 1756, Nathaniel Fisher, 1756, 
'60, '75, David Smith, 1756, Michael Metcalf, 1763, '66, '68, 
'69, '71, '75, Ensign Lemuel Pratt, 1763, Lieut. Jonathan 
Day, 1768, '69, '70, '75, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1770, '71, '74, 
Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 1770, William Smith, 1773, Lieut. 
William Mackintash, 1773, William Fuller, 1774, '7S' 
Aaron Smith, William Smith and William Mackintash were 
chosen on March 18, 1773, and reported for 1772, at a later 
date than was customary. 

Sealers of Weights and Measures 

The first law as to weights and measures in Massachusetts 
dates from 163 1, and four years later the towns were required 
to have standard weights sealed by the marshal, then James 
Pen. In 1647 the selectmen and the constables were to 
choose a sealer of weights and measures, who was to hold 
office until his successor was appointed, and the Auditor- 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 683 

General of the Colony was to be prepared to supply the 
weights and other standards. In 1679 the County treasurer 
was the authority in these matters, and In 1680 an extensive 
equipment of new scales, weights, and measures was obtained 
from London by the Colony. On January 29, 1717/18, the 
town of Needham chose John Smith, Sr., Samuel Parker 
and Thomas Metcalf to provide "Scalls and weights Such 
as the Law Directs" and "Meafuers for Standards for this 
town", and In 1720 John Fisher was chosen "to Seal Wights 
and Meafuers the first munday in April appointed to bring 
y^ Sd Wights and meafuers to be proved". Mr. Fisher was 
not, however, the first sealer of weights and measures in 
Needham, Thomas Metcalf having been appointed in 1712. 
In 1773 two shillings were granted Capt. Caleb KIngsbery 
for repairing the "Towns Scale Beam". The sealer of 
weights and measures was usually chosen in May by the 
selectmen and one, or more, of the constables, acting to- 
gether, but in 1859, 1879, and other years, he appears to 
have been chosen in town meeting, or the nomination of the 
selectmen ratified. Late in 1802 the town paid Colonel 
KIngsbery $28.90 for a "Town Standard and for giting the 
same Sealed", and later in the year the Colonel obtained of 
RIchardAustIn a"palr of Brafs scalesfor the town standard", 
for $3, and also one "28 and one 7th weight for said town 
Standard". The latter cost $2.50. 

In 1909 the town appropriated $400 for public scales and 
that autumn a Fairbanks scales was placed on the north 
side of the town hall. 

A complete list of the sealers of weights and measures 
from i7i2toi7i6 cannot be prepared from the town records 
which contain only the names of the following: — Thomas 
Metcalf, 1712, '28, '39 (Lieutenant in 1739), Matthew Tam- 
bllng, 1713, '14, John Fisher, 1720, '21, Samuel Parker, 1729- 
33) '35) '37 (seven years), Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1741, 
'43-9, '53-5 (he ceased to be "Jr." in 1752), '58 (twelve 
years), John Fisher, Jr., 1759. 



684 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

The Haywards were a short-lived board, 1717-19, and 
consisted of either two or three men. This office was held 
by: — Christopher Smith, 1717, Henry Dewing, 1717, Jona- 
than Gay, 1718, Jonathan Smith, 1718, Edmund Dewing, 
1718, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1719, Zachariah Mills, 1719. 

Sealers of Leather 

The Sealers of Leather are referred to in the Acts of the 
General Court in 1692. Stephen Huntting was the first 
one in Needham and was chosen on March 14, 1719/20. 
Usually two were annually elected until they were abolished 
in 1867. In 1766 the town paid Samuel Daggett five shil- 
lings "for a hammer to Seal leather". In 1819-21 no 
sealers of leather were chosen, and in 1855 there were four. 

Lieut. Jonathan Smith was a sealer of leather thirty- 
three years between 1769 and 1819. Jonathan Smith, pre- 
sumably the elder, had served ten years between 1745 and 
1772, but it is possible that Jonathan, Jr., later known by 
his military title, should be credited with some of these 
years. Ephraim Pain was a sealer of leather thirty-one 
years from 1757 to 1791. 

The Sealers of Leather from 1720 to 1776 were: — Stephen 
Huntting, 1720, '21, '30, Nathaniel Tolman, 1722, '23, 
Nathaniel Morse, 1725-8 (four years), Dea. Timothy Kings- 
bery, 1729, '46 (excused in 173 1), Jeremiah Woodcock, 
Jr., 173 1-4, '36, '38, '43, '44, '48, '49 (ten years), Dea. Jere- 
miah Woodcock, 1737, '39-42, '47 (six years), Jonathan 
Smith, Jr., 1745, Joshua Smith, 1748 (May 19), John Edes, 
^7S^^ John Keith, 1751, Joshua Parker, 1752, Timothy 
Kingsbery, Jr., 1753, Jonathan Smith, 1754-6, '59-61, ^66 
(May 22), '71, '72 (nine years), Ephraim Pain, 1757-70, '73, 
'74, 'yS (seventeen years), Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1765, '66, 
'68, '70-3, '75, 'y6 (nine years), Moses Kingsbery, 1767, 
Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1769, '74, '75.^ 

^ Apparently there is no record of an election of a sealer of leather in certain 
years, and in 1737, 1741 and 1747 Jeremiah Woodcock may have been either the 
Deacon or his son as the record fails to indicate which it was. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 685 

Deerreaves, 1739-76: — John Goodanow, 1739-42 (four 
years), Jonathan Smith, 1739-42, '47-9 (seven years), 
Josiah Ware, 1743, '46, '49, '52-9, '61, '63-76 (twenty-six 
years and also nine years later, a total service of thirty- 
five years), Edmund Dewing, 1743, '44, Thomas Gardner, 
Jr., 1744, '46, Joshua Smith, 1746 (May 19), Henry Dewing, 
1747, Nathaniel Man, 1748, Jeremiah Dewing, 1750, Jona- 
than Deming, 1750, '51, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 175 1, 
Jeremiah Fisher, 1752, Jesse Kingsbery, 1753, Solomon 
Dewing, 1754, '57, Theophilus Richardson, 1755, Aaron 
Smith, Jr., 1756, '''j^ ("Lie*"), Jonathan Capron, 1758, 
Samuel Daggett, 1759, Lieut. Aaron Smith, 1760, '73-5 
(four years), Ephraim Bullard, 1760, John Bird, 1761, 
Jonas Mills, 1762, Ebenezer Fuller, 1762, Samuel Huntting, 
1763, Capt. Ephraim Jackson, 1764, Ebenezer Fisher, 1765, 
Jonathan Whitney, 1766, Ezekiel Richardson, 1767, Moses 
Dewing, 1768, '69, '71, Jonathan Gay, 1770, Samuel Ware, 
1772. 

Hogreaves, 1719-76: — Jonathan Smith, 1719,' 22, '30, 
Andrew Watkins, 1719, Caleb Smith, 1720, John Wood- 
cock, 1720, '25, '31, Samuel Bacon, 1721, '33, Samuel Morse, 
1721, Josiah Newell, 1721, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1722, 
'27, '28, Hezekiah Broad, 1723, '29, Aaron Smith, 1723, 
Stephen Huntting, 1724, '45 (possibly two individuals), 
John Pain, 1724, Henry Dewing, 1725, Jonathan Huntting, 

1727, Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock, 1728, Thomas Fuller, Jr., 

1728, Israel Mills, 1729, Samuel Smith, 1729, Edmund 
Dewing, 1729, '48, Nathaniel Ware, 1730, '43-7, '52 (seven 
years), Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1730, Jonathan Smith, 1730, 
'44, '46, '52, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 173 1, '36, Robert 
Ware, 1732, '38, Joseph Boyden, Jr., 1732, Josiah Ware, 
1733, Samuel Bacon, Jr., 1733, Daniel Boyden, 1734, Eben- 
ezer Newell, 1734, Robert Prentice, 1735, Nathaniel Wood- 
cock, 1735, Joseph Daniell, 1736, Hezekiah Kingsbery, 1737, 
John Fuller, 1737, Edward Smith, 1738, '40, Stephen 
Dewing, 1739, Thomas Ockinton, 1739, '46-8, '56 (five 



686 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

years), Nehemiah Mills, 1740, John Ocklnton, 1740, John 
Pain, Jr., 1741, Jesse Kingsbery, 1741, Samuel Huntting, 

1742, '47, Nathaniel Tolman, 1742, Samuel Mackentire, 

1743, '50, Josiah Woodward, 1748, Ephraim Bullard, 1748, 
Ebenezer Skinner, 1749, Caleb Kingsbery, 1749, David 
Mills, 1749, '50, '51, Hezekiah Gay, 1749, Samuel Richard- 
son, 1750 (he had declined in 1748), David Smith, 175 1, 
'52, '56, '59, '60, '64, Seth Wilson, 175 1, Uriah Coller, 1753, 
'56, '61, '63, Ebenezer Huntting, 1753, '54, Henry Dewing, 
Jr., 1754, Theophilus Richardson, 1754, William Smith, 
1755^ 'S7, Samuel Daggett, 1755, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1755-? 
(three years), Peter Edes, 1757, Jesse Knap, 1757, Chris- 
topher Smith, 1758, Moses Bullard, 1758, '62, '63, Ebenezer 
Fuller, 1758, '60, Samuel Ware, 1758, John Bird, 1759, '64, 
Ensign Peter Richardson, 1759 (May 24), Samuel Greenwood, 
1761, Moses Kingsbery, 1761, '66, Abijah Mills, 1762, '63, 
Reuben Dunton, 1762, '75, Thomas Hall, 1762, '65, '68, 
Nathaniel Kingsbery, 1762, Jonas Mills, 1764, '70, David 
Hall, 1764, '72, Ebenezer Dewing, 1765, '66, Nathaniel Ware, 
Jr., 1765, '6j, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1765, '69, Nehemiah 
Mills, 1765, Jeremiah Gay, Jr., 1766, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 
1766, Edward Beaverstock, 1766, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., 1766, 
Josiah Upham, Jr., 1767, '68, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1767, John 
Bacon, Jr., 1767, Moses Dewing, 1767, Henry Alden, 1768, 
Ebenezer Clark, 1768, Timothy Gay, 1768, David Ockinton, 
1768, Thomas Descomb, 1769, Ithamar Smith, 1769, Samuel 
Alden, 1769, John Fuller, Jr., 1770, Jonathan Smith, 1770, 
Jonathan Kingsbery, 1770, '75, Elisha Mills, 1770, Jesse 
Kingsbery, 1771, Jonathan Deming, 1771, David Mills, 
Jr., 1771, William Mackentash, Jr., 1771, '73, Aaron Molton, 
1771, Ephraim Woodward, 1771, Samuel Daniell, 1772, 
'^6, Amos Mills, 1772, Timothy Broad, 1772, Joseph Col- 
burn, Jr., 1772, William Smith, 1772, Eleazer Fuller, 1773, 
Oliver Mills, 1773, Stephen Bacon, Jr., 1773, Luke Mills, 
1773, Isaac Underwood, 1774, John Ayers, 1774, Jere- 
miah Daniell, 1774, Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1774, Solomon 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 687 

Fuller, 1774, Isaac Bacon, 1775, Amos Edes, 1775, Tim- 
othy Fisher, 1775, Richard Blencow, 1775, John M'=Intash, 
1776, Lemuel Mills, 1776, Ebenezer Day, 1776, Jeremiah 
Smith, 1776, Timothy Huntting, 1776, Moses KIngsbery, 
1776. 

Clerk of the Market and Sealers of Bread 

The duties of the Clerk of the Market do not appear to 
be clearly defined, but by Act of the General Court In Decem- 
ber, 1696, they were directed to Inspect all bread offered 
for sale, and If the loaf was below the required size to seize 
It, to retain one third of It as a fee, and to deliver the rest 
to the selectmen for the poor. The constables were directed 
to assist the clerk of the market when necessary. The 
office was held In Needham by John Fisher, Jr., In 1716, '17, 
'19, '22, and by Thomas Metcalf In 1718, but was discon- 
tinued In 1723. Sealers of Bread were first chosen In this 
town on March 16, 1772, when Timothy Newell, Lieut. 
William Mackintash and Ensign Ephralm Bullard were 
elected. The two former were succeeded the next year by 
Lieut. Jonathan Day and Ebenezer Newell. Sealers of 
Bread, usually two In number, were chosen annually until 
they were abolished on March 4, 1867. Amos Fuller, Jr., 
who served eleven years between 1789 and 1804, filled this 
office as long as anybody. Rufus Mills built "the Bake 
House", which In 1878 was removed from Its location close 
by the road, just south of where the granite steps lead to the 
Dwight School, to the slope of North Hill, where It has been 
occupied as a dwelling from time to time. In February, 1909, 
the Bake House resumed Its travels, was slid down from 
North Hill, and, after remaining partly In the road and partly 
on the BurrlU place for two or three weeks, it was ulti- 
mately located, by John F. Mills, on Rosemary Street, on 
what was once Parish land. The building was badly damaged 
by fire on the afternoon of July 13, 191 1. 



688 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 

Deacon Timothy KIngsbery was Surveyor of Hemp and 
Flax from March lO, 1735 to the spring of 1739, but had no 
successor. 

Surveyors of Timber 

On March 14, 1774, the town voted to "Chufe Three 
Perfons to be Surveyors of Timber this year", viz., Michael 
Metcalf, Aaron Smith, Jr., and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, 
but the next year none were chosen. There were two Sur- 
veyors of Lumber prior to 1844, when Seth Dewing became 
sole surveyor, and so continued for years, but later served 
with colleagues. In 1862 there were four surveyors of lumber. 

Surveyors of Wood 

The first Surveyors of Wood chosen in Needham were 
Benjamin Slack, Ephraim Bacon, Capt. Michael Harris, 
Jonathan Richardson, Lemuel Bracket, David Scot and 
Lieut, Jonathan Smith, who were elected at the annual 
meeting in 1805. Of these Messrs. Slack, Harris and Smith 
were prominent citizens, and Squire Slack held the ofhce 
of surveyor of wood for many years, as did Solomon Flagg, 
Sr., who was elected for the first time in 1806. Capt. Michael 
Harris, Jr., was precocious as an office-holder, and in his 
twenties filled positions of importance in the town and parish, 
in addition to that of a militia captain. Lieutenant Smith 
was an active man in Needham, and the Wellesley Town 
Hall and Library occupy the site of his house. The survey- 
ors of wood were later known as Measurers of Wood, and 
have seldom exceeded fourteen in number, although there 
were seventeen in 1878; some years they have also been 
Weighers and Gangers. In 1910 there were eight Measurers 
of Wood and Bark, two Surveyors of Lumber and six Public 
Weighers. William Flagg was a surveyor of wood for 
thirty-three consecutive years, 1828-60, and Robert 
Mansfield thirty years, 1861-90. A brother of the latter. 



THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 689 

John Mansfield, served twenty-six years between 1828 and 
1859. Samuel W. Dix held this office for twenty-five years 
between 1821 and 1848, and Newell Smith an equally 
long time between 1825 and i860. George W. Hoogs was 
for twenty-one years a surveyor for the Lower Falls, between 
1810 and 1841. 

JURYMEN 

In Provincial times the list of proposed jurors, prepared 
by the selectmen, or by a special committee, was offered to 
the town for acceptance, as at the present day, and some 
were excused by vote of the town. On occasion each name 
in the list was acted on separately, and committees were 
appointed to "Regulate the Jury Box's", which were kept 
locked until a juryman was required. In modern times the 
names are drawn by the selectmen and one of the constables. 
The first record of a juryman In Needham is when Ephraim 
Ware, Sr., was selected as a Grand juror on July i, 1719, 
and the second Instance is the choice of Captain Cook as a 
Traverse juror on March 11, 1733/4. Prior to 1776 the 
names of but twenty-nine other jurors are preserved In the 
Needham records; some of these were for the Superior 
Court, others for the General Sessions of the Peace or the 
Inferior Court. 



"For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as 

yesterday when it is past, and as a 

watch in the night ". 



^bbentra 



Apparently in ancient times The Hundreds Dividend reached 
some distance south of Blossom Street, and probably included the 
"School Farm", if not The Leg. The statement on page 21 that 
The Hundreds extended substantially to Blossom Street was 
influenced by the positive assurance of a native of West Needham 
(Wellesley), who has been regarded as an authority in such mat- 
ters, that that was the fact, but this opinion was at variance 
with impressions derived by the writer from the study of early 
records. It seems reasonably certain that the territory known 
in 171 1 as The Hundreds was larger than that so designated a 
century later. 

In 1859 the aqueduct in Needham broke and for live days 
Boston was without its supply of water. 

Israel Whitney was called "Deacon Would Be" by some people, 
but it does not appear how generally the worthy man's supposed 
ambition was thus recognized. Mr. Whitney had on one or more 
occasions received votes for the office of deacon, and his facetious 
title was in contrast with that of his neighbor, "Deacon Could 
Be." 

The Tea and Toast Club, referred to on page 597, has invariably 
consisted oi fifteen married ladies. 

The old oak on the Training Field was badly damaged in a 
severe gale in January, 1912, and Mr. Clarke arranged with the 
tree warden to do what was necessary for its preservation. 

The officers of the Needham Historical Society were chosen on 
October 10, 191 1, and John Fisher Mills then became its first 
president. 



3nbex 



The alphabetical lists of Needham soldiers in the Civil War under the following headings : In- 
fantry, pages 404-502; Cavalry, pages 502-504; Artillery, pages 504, 505; and Navy, pages 506, 507, 
are not indexed here. The chronological lists of the minor town officers, pages 674-682, 684-687, are 
also not indexed here. 



A BATEMENT of taxes, 526, 527 

■^^ Abbott, JosiahG., 162, 300. Rev. 
Stephen G., 255 

Abbott Post, G. A. R., 507 

Abington, 211 

Ackroyd, James A., 304 

Act of Incorporation passed, 72 

Acton, 573, 619 

Adams, Dr., 568. Rev. Mr., 246. Rev. 
Amos, 235. Rev, Andrew N., 241, 
242. Asa, 570. Chester, 159, 215, 
440. George, 581. George A., 584. 
Rev. George M., 286. Joseph H., 
290, 294, 295. Mary, 365. Mary 
A., 272. Rev. Nehemiah, 273. 
Samuel, 169. Dr. Samuel, 569. 
Rev. Thomas, 237. Rev. William 
H., 272, 273, 276-278, 282, 366, 
370>543- Rev. Zabdiel, 233. Rev. 
Zenas, 261 

Addington, Isaac, 72 

Advent Christian Church, see Churches 

Advent Christian Hall, 596 

Advent Society, 301 

Agricultural and kindred societies, 
609-612 

Agricultural Fairs, 612 

Agricultural libraries, 375 

Alabama, 543 

Alarm-bells, 579 

"Alarm Men," 437, 454 

Albany, New York, 431, 466, 487 

Albion Cricket Club, 599, 600 

Alden — Aiding — AUden — Alldin — 
Alldings, — , 41. Amasa, 338. 
Charles E., 447-449. George A., 
22. Henry, 12, 71, 81, 84. John, 
12, 86, 87, 92, 114, 435, 527, 650. 
Moses, 362. Otis, 422. Rachel, 
616. Ruth, 40. Samuel, 202, 441, 
456, 461, 474, 482. Silas, 12, 39, 
97, 154, 181, 202, 226, 338, 339, 



341, 342, 428, 440, 456, 461, 464, 
465, 478, 482, 488, 516, 561-563, 
645, 651. Thomas, 308. William, 
56, 436. William, Jr., 338, 341 

Alden and Pope, 11, 21 

Alden family, 12, 13 

Alden gravel pit, 587 

Aldcn's Hotel, Dcdham, 445 

Aldcrshot, England, 442 

Aldridge — Alderidge — Alderig — Al- 
dridg, Mary, 135. Samuel, 13, 
329. Thomas, 13, 78, 82, 135, 231. 
William, 40 

Aldridge — Alderidge — Aldrich family, 

13, 14 

Alexander, Josephine C, 668 

Alfreton, Derbyshire, England, 398, 405 

Alfreton Road, 405 

Alger, James M., 421 

Allan steamship line, 544 

Allchin, Rev. Frederick J., 296 

Allen, Captain, 469. Rev. Mr., 219, 220. 
Amos, 100, 349, 648. Rev. Charles 
A., 242, 243, 306. Hezekiah, 307. 
Dr. John, 548, 568. Rev. John, 
136. Rev. John, Methodist, 260. 
Rev. John W., 273. Pomp, 566 

Almshouse, 179, 190, 524, 541, 551, 552, 
602, 606, 607 

Almshouse cells, 551 

Altar, Christ Church, gifts of furnish- 
ings, 303 

Alton, N. H., 288 

Ambler, Harvey, 307 

American Artillery, First Company, 470 

American Quarterly Register, 236, 239 

American Revolution, see War of the 
American Revolution 

Ames, Fisher, 169. Nathaniel, 568. 
Robert E., 640, 664. Robert W., 

257 
Amherst, Jeffry, 43 1 



694 



INDEX 



Amherst, 292 

Anabaptists, 225, 247, 526 

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
pany, 441 

Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
592 

Andersonville, Ga., 494, 504 

Andirons, 342 

Andover, 275, 628 

Andrews, David A., 398. Frank, 634. 
Rev. George W., 243 

Anglo-American Lodge, Sons of St. 
George, 592 

Annapolis Royal, N. S., 429 

Annin, William B., 131 

Annual Exhibitions at Oakland Hall 
School, 372 

Annual Register of the Baptist Denom- 
ination, 248 

Anthis, Philip, 505 

Antietam, Md., 501, 502 

Antipedobaptists, 247, 248, 258 

Appleton, John, 577 

Appleton Temporary Home for Ine- 
briates, 372, 533, 604 

Appropriations, at different periods, 
1810-1910, 533 

Apthorp, Rev. East, 149 

Aquatic garments made, 400 

Aqueduct Bridge, 358 

Aqueducts, 126, 127, 691 

Arlington, 453 

Armory, Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 447, 
448 

Arnold, Ambrose, 277. Benedict, 485. 
Rev. Robert, 261 

Arrow heads, 1 1 

Artillery, names of Needham soldiers 
in the Civil War arranged alpha- 
betically, not indexed, 504, 505 

Asbury, Rev. Francis, 260, 262. Rev. 
Thomas, 261 

Ashburnham, 18 

Ashby, 137 

Ashford, Conn., 618 

Ashwell, Edward S., 398. George, 268, 
398 

Ashwell Manufacturing Company, 398 

Asphaltoil used on roads, 105 

Asplund, John, 248 

Assessment of taxes, 519-522 

Assessors, see Town Officers 

Assistant Registrar of Probate, 647 

Athletic garments made, 400, 408 

Atkins, John, 307; John, Jr., 307 



Attleborough, Atelburey, 23, (d^, 433, 

434 

Atwood, Rev. Edward S., 274-276, 280, 
283, 352, 667; his salary, 276 

Auction of the poor, 547, 551, 602 

Auctioneers, 632 

Auditors, see Town Officers 

Austin, Agnes, 451. Louisa E., 298, 300. 
Mary P., 298. Richard, 683. S. 
Harris, 298, 300 

Authors, 627, 628 

Autumn Lodge, L O. of G. T., 604 

Avery, Dorcas R., 269. George, 252, 
664. Jane G., 250, 356, 610. John, 
265. Jonathan, 24, 250, 254, 265, 
270, 357, 360, 402, 424, 543, 603, 
663 

Avery Land, 424 

Avery School-house, 360, 361, 424, 599. 
Teachers, 364 

Avery Square, 424 

Avery Street, 424 

Ayer, Saint Mary's Church, 296 

Ayres — Aiers — Ares — Ayers, Aaron, 
456. Ann, 14. Charles, 263. 
Daniel, 423. David, 15, 114, 307, 
319, 563, Ebenezer, 307. John, 
14, 483, 522, 678. Joseph, 487. 
Joshua, 307. Nathaniel, 14, 198, 
435,464,465,477,478. Nathaniel, 

Jr-, 467 

Ayres, see also Eayrs 
Ayres, Ayers family, 14, 15 
Azaleas, Hunnewell estate, 634 

r> ACKUS, Isaac, his "History of the 

-'-' Baptists," 248 

Bacon, Abigail, 16. Amos, 307. Daniel, 
429, 437, 678. David, 438, 565. 
Ephraim, 16, 688. Henry, 15, 16, 
26, 143, 429, 437. Isaac, 457, 462, 
466. Jeremiah, 437. John, 15, 16, 
91, 147, 150, 307, 429, 437, 440, 
452-454, 457, 459, 462, 463, 468, 
483, 651, 675. John, Jr., 23, 150. 
John, 3d, 33, 63, 329. Jonathan, 
339, 460, 462,481. Jonathan, Jr., 
341. Joseph, 150. Michael, 15, 321, 
459, 463, 559. Moses, 458, 460, 
463,468. Oliver, 2d, 307. Samuel, 
15,71,202,223, 224, 332, 435, 678. 
Stephen, 15, 129, 130, 141, 142, 
147, 150, 329, 460, 483, 651. 
Stephen, Jr., 429, 437, 457, 462, 467. 
Timothy, 15, 26, 27, 86, 130, 141, 



INDEX 



695 



142, 146-148, 458, 462, 670. Wil- 
liam, 431. Zeruiah, 23 

Bacon family, 15, 16, 20, 22 

Bacon Street, 91, 453 

Badger, Sarah G., 300. Rev. Stephen, 

437 

Badlam, Stephen, 473 

Bailey — Balcy, John, 473. Rev. John 
M., 264. Luther, 473. Samuel, 
458, 477. William P., 361 

Bake House, 393, 687 

Baker, Rev. Abijah R., 246, 627, 628. 
His "Catechism Tested by the 
Bible," 627. His "Divine Sover- 
eignty in Human Salvation," 628. 
George, 474. Harriette N. (Mrs. 
Abijah R.), 628. Her "Tim the 
Scissors Grinder," 628. John, 16, 
201. Rev. Noah, 248. William E., 

138, 139, 356, 415- 
Baker's Field, 16, 201, 208 
Balch, Rev. Mr., 242. Rev. Thomas, 235 
Baldwin, Frank F., 300 
Ball, Henry A., 275 
Bancroft, Dr., 338 
Band-stand, 632 
Bank tax, 534 

Banks, Gov. Nathaniel P., 448, 540, 633 
Banks, 425, 426 
Banner, Charles, 599 
Baptisms, First Church, 228, 324, 327. 

West Church, 228 
Baptisms in pond, 248, 251 
Baptist Church, see Churches, First 

Baptist Church 
Baptist State Convention, 252 
Baptist vestry, 191, 251, 604 
Baptistery, 251 
Baptists, 151, 248, 249, 526 
Barber — Barbar — Barbur — Bar- 

bure, Joseph, 81, 82, 223. Mary, 

224. Nathaniel, 473 
Barden & Newell, 391 
Barnes, Charles L., 509. Daniel, 422 
Barney, Salmon, 96 
Barr, Benjamin L., 347 
Barrel-hoops, 392 
Barrett, Luther, 95 
Barrows, Rev. William, 274, 280, 352, 

667; his salary, 276 
Barry, Rev. John S., 242 
Bartlett, Mr., 447. Ebenezer, 475, 

Eunice, 560. Henry, 589. Henry 

F., 307. Jonathan S., 307. Lois, 

560. Longley, 460, 478 



Bass — Baass, Rev. Mr., 220 

Bass viol bought, 246, 309 

Batchelder, Mr., 263. Henry S., 275, 
280, 281. John, 271-274, 277, 278, 
280, 281. Rebecca S., 272 

Batcheller, Holland N., 610 

Bates, Catherine L., 291 

Baton Rouge, La., 497 

Battelle — Battell — Battle — Battles, 
Rev. Allen E., 250, 251. Eben- 
ezer, 475, 476, 478. Hezekiah, 478. 
Jonathan, 352, 512, 667. Josiah, 
478. Leonard, 601. Mary (Mrs. 
Leonard), 362 

Batting-mill, 398 

Baxter, Rev. Joseph, 219, 220, 224, 
227 

Beach, Thomas, 599, 631 

Beals, Lewis, 99 

Bean, George F., 378. Helen M., 378 

Beaufort, S. C, 496, 498 

Beautiful World, Gzg 

Beaver-hats made, 397 

Beaverstock — Beverstock, Edward, 
173, 469- John, 430, 43 1, 463, 466, 
467, 470 

Beck, Adam, 384. James H., 298. 
Lizzie H., 298 

Beckman, Charles E., 302, 304 

Beckwith, William H., 617 

Beef tax, 482, 527, 529 

Beekman, Rev. Garrett, 269, 270 

Belcher, Jonathan, 472. Rev. Joseph, 
218-221, 224. Nathaniel, 479 

Beless, James, 403, 631. James S., 
270, 271. John, 403. Thomas, 403 

Beless family, 403 

Bells, see Church bells 

Belly kelly, Londonderry, Ireland, 61 

Bemis, Andrew T., 265. Charles, 383 

Benjamin, John, 469. Samuel, 473 

Benjamin F. Butler Camp, Sons of 
Veterans, 508 

Bennett, Robert, 599. William, 393 

Benson, Abel or Nero, 451 

Bent, Elizabeth, 62. Rev. Gilbert R., 
256, 269. Hopestill, 62. Peter, 462 

Benvenue Street, 88 

Berdell mortgage, 414 

Berlin, Prussia, 587 

Bernard — Barnard, Gov. Francis, 148 

Bethesda Church, Va., 500 

Bible, in Sunday School library, 238; 
painting on ceiling of 3d Meeting- 
house, 205 



696 



INDEX 



Bicentennial Celebration, 189, 441, 579, 

626, 627 
Bicycles made, 399 
Bidwell, Rev. I.M., 261, 262 
Biers, 321 
Bigelow — Biglow, Mr., 125. Abraham, 

307. Rev. Andrew, 246, 273. 

Chester A., 544. Rev. Frank H., 

304. Isaac, 307. Joseph, 307. 

William, 247, 307 
Bill family, 673 
Billerica, 27 
Billings, Henry, 414 
Billings, Clapp & Company, 388 
Bills of Credit, 514 
Binney & Co., 387 
Binney's Mill, 387 

Birch — Burch Meadow, 28, 53, 80, 140 
Birch — Burch Plain, 16, 28, 34, 79, 

136 
Bird, Benjamin, 56, S"]. Ebenezer, 488. 

George, 380, 441. John, 136, 431, 

457, 463, 467, 474, 479- John S., 

277, 349, 654. Josiah N., 440 
Bird's Hill, 24, 73, 136 
Birney, James G., 171 
Births, 184, 188, 228, 324, 327 
Bishop, Robert, 382, 384 
Bivory, Rev. John, 261 
Bixby, Jonathan, 202 
Black, James W., 587. Rev. Newton, 

244, 303, 305 
"Black House," 623 
Blackinton — Blackenton, Nathaniel, 

433-435- Othniel, 54 
Blackinton family, 54 
Blackman, Adam, 202, 213, 431. Caro- 
line E., 617. Henry, 655. Henry 

D., 624 
Blackman place, 87, 332 
Blacksmith shops, 33, 48, 97, lOO, 178, 

394-396 
Blacksmiths, 24, 60, 61, 64, 241, 394, 

396, 632, 633 
Blacksmith's Pond, 139 
Blair, Gen. Francis P., 504 
Blaisdell — Blasdale, Ensign, 474. 

Charles, 352 
Blanchard, Mr., 446, 541. Rev. Calvin 

B., 261 
Blanchard Land, 423 
Blanket money, 463, 464 
Blankets made, 399 
Blasland, Anna, 618 
Blencow — Blencoe — Blincow — Blin- 



cowe, Ann, 472. Richard, 456, 461, 
472, 476 

Blind-hinges made, 394, 396, 409 

Blind Lane, 346, 583 

Blodgett, Rev. Constantine, 274 

Blood, Rev. Caleb, 248, 251 

Blossom Street, 85, 98, 134, 691 

Board of Health, see Town Officers 

Bodingham — Bodinham, Susanna, 48. 
William, 48, 54 

Bogle, Mary, 259. Her epitaph, 260. 
William, 96, 98, 259 

Boit, Mr., 384 

Bolton, 203 

Bond, Lieut.-Col., 459. Alonzo, 632. 
Richard H., 257 

Bonney, Rev. Isaac, 261 

Bookpaper made, 391 

Boots and shoes made, 390, 401, 409 

Boston, Cato, 566 

Boston, 103, 127, 164, 186, 202, 203, 
276, 317, 363, 392, 421, 430, 447, 
450, 460, 480, 481, 487, 539, 541, 
543, 544, 55°. 557, 57°, 612, 617. 
Back Bay filled with Needham 
soil, 422. Baptist Bethel, 250. 
Central Church, 274. Essex Street 
Church, 273. Fire, 1872, 112. 
Grand Opera House, 634. HoUis 
Street Church, 236. Old South 
Church, 2 18, 224. Phillips School, 
661. Second Baptist Church, 248. 
Siege, 1775, 459. State National 
Bank, dG^. Sun Tavern, 539. 
Union Baptist Church, 250. 
Water supply fails, 691 

Boston and Albany Railroad Company, 
354, 413, 416. Newton Circuit, 413 

Boston and Needham Circuit, 262 

Boston and Providence Railroad, 420, 
421 

Boston and Providence Street Railway 
Company, 420 

Boston and Worcester Railroad Cor- 
poration, 413, 414, 545 

Boston Aqueduct, 126, 127 

Boston Belting Company, 387 

Boston Brass Band, 631 

" Boston Clique," 164 

Boston Common, 447 

Boston District, 262 

Boston Evening Transcript, 384 

Boston Harbor, 233 

Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad 
Company, 414, 422 



INDEX 



697 



Boston Market Act, 167 

Boston Museum, 216, 634 

Boston South Baptist Association, 251 

Boston University, School of Medicine, 

572 

Bostonville, 423 

Bound, Rev. Mr., 526 

Boundaries, changes, 141-163; con- 
troversy with Dedham, 73-75 

Bounties, Revolution, 459, 466-468, 
471, 472, 476; Civil War, 490-492; 
for wild animals, 641, 642 

Bourne, Charles E., 402. William, and 
Son Piano Company, 401 

Bourne Building, 402, 426 

Bourne Hall, 599, 609, 627 

Bowditch, Mr., 42. Galen, 487. Jona- 
than, 307, 632 

Bowdoin, Gov. James, 14, 169. William, 
15, 149, 183, 531,565,64s 

Bowen, Otis E., 265, 290, 608 

Bowen family, 633 

Bowers, AUston R., 289. Betsey, 617. 
Edgar H., 176, 182, 185, 191, 
192, 289, 294, 295, 325, 396, 578, 
582, 622, 626, 655, 664. Sherman, 
137, 632 

Bowers & Brown, 630 

Bowman, Rev. Joseph, 234 

Box-stoves, 342 

Boyd, Alpheus P., 664. Francis, 577. 
Isabelle P., 599 

Boyden — Boyding, Daniel, 13. Han- 
nah, 48. James, 48. Joseph, 13, 
14, 37, 81, 195, 218, 219, 
223, 224, 308, 313, 332, 649. 
Merrill N., 352, 668. Rebecca, 14, 

15 

Boyden's Hall, 265 

Boylston, 370, 574 

Boynton, Richard, 204, 207, 324, 347, 
349, 576, 589, 666 

Boys' Club, 609 

Boys' Fraternity, 267 

Boys' League, 254 

Brackett — Bracket, David, 467. Lem- 
uel, 211, 458, 688. Lucy (Mrs. 
Charles), 310. Samuel, 211, 458. 
Solomon, 438 

Braddock, General, 430 

Bradford, Rev. Alden, 237. Gamaliel, 
358, 668 

Bradford, 618 

Bradish, John, 195 

Bradley, William, 633 



Brady and Tate, their "Church 
Psalms," 308 

Brand, Deborah, 558, 559 

Brattle, William, 145 

Breck, Rev. Robert, 218, 219 

Breding, Daniel, 569 

Brett, Captain, 310 

Brewer, Colonel, 459. Abigail, 59 

Brick school district, see Centre, Brick, 
school district 

Brick school-house, see Centre, Brick, 
school-house 

Bridges, 58, 1 13-128, 159 

Bridgewater — Bridewater, 559. Battle 
of, 487 

Brigade Band, 447 

Brigadier General, militia, 440 

Bright, Michael, 463, 467, 481 

Brighton, 579, 61 1 

Brinley, Francis, 430, 43 1 

British Army, 511 

British Military and Naval Veterans, 
441 

British prisoners, 480, 481 

"British Sunday," 441 

Broad, Grace, 615. Hezekiah, 16, 17, 
26, S3, 63, 71, 83, 86, 87, 157, 214, 
219, 307. Josiah, 17, 86. Seth, 
458, 467, 474, 481. Theodore, 91, 
125, 211, 45S, 462, 480. Thomas, 
17, 211, 214, 339, 390, 435, 527. 
Timothy, 14, 17, 457, 461, 462 

Broad and Stevens Brook, 340 

Broad family, 16, 17 

Broad Meadow, 40, 52, S3, 57, 58, 60, 
66, 108, 113, 127, 13s, 232 

Broad Meadow Road, 87, 91, 104 

Broad's Bridge, Theodore, 125, 339 

Broad's Hill, Natick, 17 

Broad's Mills Bridge, 125 

Broad's Pond, 17, 130, 138 

Brockton, 626 

Bromfield, Edward, 56 

Brook Street, 83, 88, 99, 103 

Brookline, 44, 127, 237, 272, 3 IS, 387, 
413, 421, 430, 433, 464, S70. Min- 
isters' wood lot in Needham, 315. 
First Parish, 315 

Brookline Band, 62s 

Brooks, Rev. Mr., 246. Rev. Edward, 
234. Gov. John, 170. John F., 
406. Brooks, John F., Company, 
406 

Brookside Road, 83 

Brown — Browne, Betsey, 17, 18, 



698 



INDEX 



326. Frank H., 392. Hopestill, 
62. James M., 584. John, 321, 
429, 436, 459. Joshua, 307, 480. 
Lois, 616. Samuel, 17, 18, 211, 
387, 454, 652. William, 62, 558. 
William H., 443. Woodbrldge, 145, 
151, 211 

Brown family, 17, 18 

Brown Fund, Betsey, 327 

Brown's Bridge, 125, 126 

Brown-tail moths, 614 

Brownville, Albert E., 257, 542 

Brumley, Rev. Daniel, 260 

Bryan — Bryon, Richard, 463, 469 

Bryant — Briant, Captain, 469 

Buck seen, 643 

Buckley, Jeremiah F., 297. John E., 

192, 519 
Buckminster — Buckminister, Edward, 

479 

Bucknam, Caleb, 307 

Buffalo Pitts Company, 104 

Bugle players, 631 

Bull Run, Va., 495, 497, 500 

Bullard, Abigail, 616. Ephraim, 18, 88, 
146, 147, 180, 211, 339, 340, 435, 
438-440,442,451,454,488,539,638, 
651, 656, 661, 687. Ephraim, Jr., 
465. John, 458, 460, 462, 468. Jo- 
seph, 460, 462, 464, 474, 480. Moses, 
18,202, 211,440,457,466,467,476, 
477, 483. 516, 539, 638, 646, 656, 
670. Nathaniel, 18, 20, 83, 85, 
144, 157, 199, 330, 369, 435, 462, 
480, 488, 515, 550, 632, 647, 650, 
677. Timothy, 309, 440, 488, 589, 
656 

Bullard family, 18, 136 

Bullard's Bridge, 125, 130 

Bullard's Brook, 60, 125, 138, 139, 153 

Bullard's Hill, 136, 451 

Bullard's Pond, 130, 138, 153, 558 

Bullard's Tavern, 88, 214, 438, 451, 486, 
538, 539, 656 

Bullen, Ellen M., 284. Ichabod, 654. 
Joseph, 487. Lydia, 19. Mari- 
etta J., 284. Rebecca, 284. Thad- 
deus, 398 

Bullock, Edwin 0., 268, 276, 282 

Bullough, Eliza, 381 

Bunker Hill, Battle of, 435, 561. Cen- 
tennial, 138 

Bunker Hill Monument, 441, 485 

Bunker Hill Monument Association, 
48s 



Buoncore, Miss L., 371 

Burgess, Rev. Ebenezer, 283, 284, 291 

Burgoyne, General, 481 

Burnham, John, 250, 256, 258. Mar- 
tha M. (Mrs. John), 250, 258 

Burr, Isaac T., 587 

Burrage, Charles D., 486, 587, 590, 593 

Burrellville Bank, 187 

Burrill, Bill, 542, 640, 673. Bill, 2d, 
578, 672, 673. Francis A., 322. 
Sketch of his life, 619-622. John, 
72, Susan, 262, 269, 620, 621 

Burrill place, 687 

Burton, Captain, 469. Henry E., 577. 
Rev. Nathan S., 256 

Burying-ground, see Needham Cemetery 

Bush, Rev. Solon W., 206, 242, 581. 
Mrs. Solon W., 242 

Butcher, 14 

Butler, Benjamin F., 508 

Butler, hound, 322 

Byington, E. G., 554 

By-laws, 193, 5^8 

/^AHILL, James E., 582 

^^ Calbayog, West Samara, Philip- 
pines, 511 

Callahan, Rev. Michael F., 296 

Callanan, Rev. Patrick H., 295 

Cambridge, 12, 19, 22, 27, 149, 166, 167, 
453,459,480,559,570,623. Christ 
Church, 149. First Baptist Church, 
250 

Cambridge Great Cart Bridge, 113 

Camp Clorenta, 511 

Camp Connell, 511 

Camp Downes, 511 

Camp Kittles, 443 

Camp Meade, 509 

Camp meetings of Methodists, 260 

Camp Wetherell, 509 

Campbell, Alexander, 89 

Canaan, N. H., 617 

Canada, 431, 433, 442, 459, 465-468, 
528, 600, 618 

Canker worms, 614 

Canton, Conn., 618 

Canton, N. Y., 242 

Capen, Rev. Samuel, 239 

Capron, Christopher, 431, 432. Jona- 
than, 433, 434 

Caps made, 406 

Capt. Pratt's Bridge, see Pratt's Bridge 

Captains, militia, 440, 441. Cavalry, 
442. Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 449 



INDEX 



699 



Cardigan jackets made, 405, 406 

Care of the Highways, 107-112 

Carey, William, 466 

Carnegie, Andrew, 268, 376 

Carpenter, Simeon B., 570 

Carr, Hiram, 619 

Cart Bridge, 86, 87, 89, 1 18 

Carter, Horace A., 266, 268, 270, 271, 
361, 404, 668. Jane G. (Mrs. 
William), 250, 254, 268, 376, 378, 
610. JosiahH., 352, 525, 603, 626, 
654, 663, 665. William, 139, 265, 
267, 268, 270, 32s, 376, 377, 379, 
399, 404-407, 412, 416, 424, 582, 
584, 603, 626, 633, 646, 655, 668. 
William, and Company, 404. Wil- 
liam H., 404, 646 

Carter, William, Company, 404-406. 
Lower Mill, 268, 393, 399, 404. 
Mill No. I, 405 

Cartwright, James, 400, 611 

Cartwright Street, Wellesley, 90, 99, 
400 

Caryl, George, 570 

Castle Island, 464, 479 

"Catalogue of Wellesley Hills Congre- 
gational Church," 276 

Cataract Engine Company, Newton, 

577, 579, 633 

Catherine, Indian, 10 

Cato, Dinah, 566, 616 

Cato, Jethro, 565-567 

Cattle, 639, 641; number at different 
periods, 531, 535 

Catubig, Island of Samar, Philippines, 
Sio 

Causeway, 117 

Causeway Street, 78, 103 

Cavalry, 443, 444. Names ofNeedham 
soldiers in the Civil War arranged 
alphabetically, not indexed, 502- 
504. Officers, 442 

Cavnaugh, Michael, 263 

Cedar Creek, Va., 501 

Cedar Swamp, 89 

Cedar Swamp Plain, 89 

Cemeteries, 315-320, 324-327; see also 
Needham Cemetery; North Na- 
tick graveyard; Saint Mary's 
Cemetery; West Needham Ceme- 
tery; Woodlawn Cemetery 

Census, population at different times, 
1711-1910, 237, 530, 532 

Cent Society of Needham, 207 

Centennial Celebration, 623, 624 



Centennial of the Battles of Concord 
and Lexington, 485 

Central Avenue, 21, 81, 82, 84, 87, 89, 
98, 99, 136, 205, 415, 539 

Central Street, 102 

Centre, Brick, school district, 340, 341, 
343-346, 349, 350, 352, 366 

Centre, Brick, school-house, 44, 332, 
333, 335, 337, 3.39, 342, 344, 347, 
350, 353, 359, 360. Teachers, 362- 
364 

Ceolins, Clarkson, 505 

Chadbourne, Edward J., 257 

Chamberlain, Rev. Joshua, 237. Nath- 
aniel, 433, 453, 455 

Chandler, Rev. Edward H., his "His- 
tory of the Wellesley Congrega- 
tional Church," 215, 247 

Chandler, Jonathan, 435 

Channing, Rev. George G., 241 

Chapin, E. P., 277 

Chapman, Rev. Arthur W., 303, 305 

Charitable Sewing Society, 317 

Charles River, 58, 68, 69, 73, 79, 82, 87, 
89, 99, 113-115, 119-121, 128-130, 
134, 136-140, 163, 644. Beams 
placed in its bed, 412 

Charles River Branch Railroad, 414 

Charles River Railroad, 413, 414, 421 

Charles River Street, 17, 22, 82, 98, 99, 
122, 419 

Charles River Village, 25, 131, 176, 243, 
304, 396, 415, 574, 581. Mill, 391, 
392. Post-office, 543 

Charleston, S. C, 504 

Charlestown, 24, 451, 505, 510, 530. 
First Baptist Church, 250 

Charlestown, N. H., 465, 466 

Charpiot, Rev. Louis, 604 

Chase, Harriet, 668 

Chautauqua Literary and Scientific 
Circle, 597 

Cheever, Thomas, 432, 433 

Chelmsford, 248 

Chelsea, 271 

Chemical works, 388 

Cheney, Abigail, 99. Asa, 441, 488. 
Benjamin, 486. Elizabeth, 60. 
Joseph, 47. Timothy, 560 

Cheney estate, 11, 369 

Cheney family, 245, 334 

Chescntree Road, 95 

Chestnut Hill, 64, 87, 95, 98 

Chestnut Street, 102, 105, 418-420, 
579 



700 



INDEX 



Chestnut Trees, 14, 15, 44, 58, 83, 88, 91 

Chicago, 111., 510 

Chickamauga, Ga., 510 

Chickering, John, 21. Mary, 21. Nath- 
aniel, 512 

Chief Engineers, Fire Department, see 
Town Officers 

Child, Oscar C. A., 509 

Children's Hospital, Convalescent 
. Home, 44, 309, 344, 533 

Children's subscription to Bunker Hill 
Monument, 485 

Children's underwear made, 404, 406- 
408 

Childs — Child, Mr., 151, 423, Ed- 
ward, 195. Harold C, 295. Henry 
T., 376, 656, 664. John, 196. 
Joseph, 486. Rev. Stephen, 234 

Christ Church, see Churches 

Christening basin. First Church, 238 

Christian Era, 255 

Christian Science Church, see Churches 

Christian Science Hall, 305 

Chub, William, 84, 3 14, 330, 561, 670, 671 

Church Attendance, 306 

Church bells, 624. First Church, 204, 
322, 579, 621, 626, 634. Baptist 
Church, 252. Methodist Church, 
268, 579. Orthodox Congregational 
Church in Grantville, 278. Evan- 
gelical Congregational Church, 286. 
Unitarian Society of Grantville, 300 

Church book, 221, 227 

Church choristers, 308, 309 

Church Covenant, 222, 223 

Church lot, 205 

Church Manuals, 246 

Church Music, 308-311 

Church orchestra, 309 

Church silver, see Communion service 

Churches 

Advent Christian Church, 301 
Christ Church, 302-305, 407. Church 
built, 302. Dedicated, 303. Minis- 
ters, 303. Wardens, 303, 304. 
Number of members, 304 
Christian Science Church, 305, 306 
Congregational Church in West Need- 
ham, 18, 166, 245-247, 258, 271, 
272,280,306,320,375,573. Meet- 
ing-houses, 245. Its Church Man- 
ual, 246, 312. Its Ministers, 246, 
247. Its Deacons, 247 
Evangelical Congregational Church, 
282-295,304,306,571. Confession 



Churches — Continued 

of Faith adopted, 283. Chapel 
built, 284, 285. Church Manual 
printed, 286. Bell bought, 286. 
Standing Rules adopted, 287. An- 
nual reunions, 287. Name changed, 

287. Debt paid, 288. Sunday 
School, 288. Number of members, 

288. 289. Music, 289. Organ 
bought, 289. Parsonage bought, 

289. Communion service bought, 
289, 290. Its Ministers, 291-293. 
Its Deacons, 293, 294. Its Clerks, 
294 

First Baptist Church in Needham, 40, 
104, 248-258, 288, 306, 586, 598. 
Church built, 249-251. Its Sun- 
day School, 251. Its baptistery, 
251. Its bell, 252. The Jubilee 
Anniversary, 254. Number of 
members, 254, 255. Pastors, 255, 
256. Deacons, 256, 257. Me- 
morial windows, 258 

First Church in Needham, 42, 47, 65, 
179, 213, 216-246, 287, 297, 306, 
308-310, 321, 414, 565, 579, 601, 
602, 604, 615, 627, 672. Mr. Town- 
send's ministry, 220-233. His rec- 
ords, 221-230. His ordination, 224. 
His salary, 229-231. His sermons, 
233. From the decease of Mr. 
Townsend to the settlement of Mr. 
West, 233, 234. The Rev. Samuel 
West's ministry, 234-237. His 
ordination, 235. His sermons, 236. 
His salary, 237. The Rev. Stephen 
Palmer's ministry, 237-239. His 
ordination, 237. His salary, 238. 
His sermons, 239. Later minis- 
ters, 239-244. "Two Hundredth" 
anniversary, 244, 245. Church 
music, 308-310. Ministerial land, 
3 1 1-3 15. Cemetery, 316-318 

First Church of Christ Scientist, 305, 
306 

Holy Trinity Mission, 304, 305 

Methodist Episcopal Church, High- 
landville, 263-271, 307, 579, 595, 
596, 603. Record book, 261, 263. 
Church built, 265. Its "Records of 
Quarterly and Board Meetings," 
265. Its Sunday School, 266, 
268. Its 25th anniversary, 266. Its 
music, 267, 268. Estey organ 
bought, 268. Repairs made and 



INDEX 



701 



Churches — Coniitiued 

parsonage built, 268. Its bell, 268. 
Its Ministers, 269, 270. Its Secre- 
taries, 270. Its Treasurers, 270 
Orthodox Congregational Church in 
Grantville, 271-282, 298, 299, 306. 
Confession of Faith adopted, 272; 
printed, 273. Organized, 272. Or- 
dinations, 273-276. Salary of min- 
ister, 276. Manual, 276. Number 
of members, 276. Its Sunday- 
School, 276, 279, 282. Its organ, 

276, 279. Meeting-house built, 

277, 278. Stone church built, 278, 
279. Its records, 278. Its Minis- 
ters, 280. Its Deacons, 280, 281. 
Its Clerks, 281. Its Treasurers, 
281, 282. Its Superintendents of 
the Sunday School, 282 

Saint John's Church, 43, 295, 388 

Saint Joseph's Church, 295-297, 355. 

Its pastor and curates, 296. Its 

Sunday School, 296, 297. Its 

memorial windows, 297 

Unitarian Church, Grantville, 299-301 

Cincinnati, Ohio, 569 

Cisco, see Sisco 

City Point, Va., 493 

Civil War, 484, 485, 490-511. Soldiers' 
Letter, 492, 493. Names of Soldiers 
arranged alphabetically, not in- 
dexed. Infantry, 494-502; Cavalry, 
502-504; Artillery, 504, 505; En- 
gineer Corps, 505; Veteran Re- 
serve Corps, 505; Navy, 506, 507 

Claflin, William, 399 

Clancy, Lena L., 305 

Clapp — Clap, Colonel, 145, 174. Al- 
bion C, 275, 281,282. Harvey, 
446. Isaac, 601. John, 440. 
Sarah, 617 

Clapp Bros., 357 

Clapp's Hotel, Walpole, 446 

Clarinet, played in church, 309. Play- 
ers, 631 

Clarke — Clark, Rev., 219. Annie M., 
216, 634. Arthur, 307. Ebcnezer, 
121, 203, 435, 456, 457, 459. Eben- 
ezer, Jr., 464, 467. George E., 282, 
373. George K., 12, 47, 62, 185, 
186, 189, 191, 193, 197, 205, 212, 
213, 226, 228, 244, 325, 355, 376, 
379, 417, 485, 486, 535, 545, 594, 
603, 613, 614, 625, 655, 664, 665, 
691; his "WcUesley Epitaphs," 47, 



238, 327, 330; his address, "The Be- 
ginning of our Church," 244; his ad- 
dress at "The Jubilee Anniversary," 
254; edited "Epitaphs from the 
Old Burying Ground, Needham," 
324; his articles on the Needham 
schools and teachers in the Dedham 
Historical Register, 333. Henry, 
617. John, 72, 203, 323, 380, 383, 
430, 431, 457, 460, 466, 469, 472. 
Mrs. John, 472. Rev. Jonas, 334. 
Rev. Jonas B., 301, 354, 372, 668. 
Martha A., 313, 603. Norman, 
116. Sarah (Mrs. John), 472. 
Thomas, 538. William, 195, 384, 
601, 669. William C, 263. Rev. 
William H., 254, 256 

Clarke estate, 53 

Clay, Henry, 171 

Clay Brook, 25 

Clerks, First Parish, 212, 244; Town, 
see Town Officers 

Clerks of the Market, see Town Officers 

Cleveland, Ira, 317 

Clews, George, 271, 595. John, 631 

Clocks, First Church, 206. Baptist 
Church, 252, 286. Orthodox Con- 
gregational Church in Grantville, 
279. Town Hall, 586 

Coal first used in Cong. Church, 246 

Coat-rolls, 459 

Cobb, Lemuel, 397 

Coburn & Co., F. G., 356 

Cochituate, 30 

Cochituate Pond, 130 

Coffee, Ishmael, 567. Jupiter, 567 

Coffee family, 566 

Coffins, 323, 324 

Coffron, John, 526 

Coggin, Rev. Jacob, 237 

Cogswell, Samuel B., 281 

Colburn, Benjamin, 641. George W., 
509, 613. H. Bradford, 33. Jo- 
seph, 14, 87, 90, 347, 456. Joseph, 
Jr., 456. Lemuel, 461. Olive, 617. 
Owen, 445. Samuel, 479. Seth, 
98, 645, 653, 662. Simeon, 108, 
462 

Colburn estate, 424, 583, 600 

Colburn Spring, 583 

Colcord, John M., 666, 667 

Cold Harbor, Va., 501 

Cole, Merton K., 572 

Collectors of taxes, see Town Officers, 
Tax Collectors 



702 



INDEX 



College graduates, 372, 373 

College of Music, Wellesley College, 374 

Coller — Choller, Hannah, 186, 332. 
John, 62, 428, 436, 468. Joseph, 
332. Phinehas, 457, 459, 469, 470. 
Samuel, 479-481. Sarah, 472. 
Uriah, 435, 457, 459, 460, 464, 
472-475, 480. Uriah, Jr., 89, 458, 
462, 464, 474, 480 

Coller family, 63 

Collins, Ellen, 297, Johanna, 297. 
Patrick A., 162 

Collishaw, Albert E., 302-304 

Colonels, militia, 440 

Colony tax, 529 

Columbia, S. C, 504 

Columbian Centinel, 236 

Columbian Minerva, 47 

Combination Company, 580 

Commins — Commons, Edmond, 284, 
297. Joseph, 37 

Commissioner for Assessment, see Town 
Ofiicers, Assessors 

Commissioner of Insolvency, 647 

Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion and Safety, see Town Officers 

Committee on a Town History, 185, 186 

Committee on the Improvement of the 
Burying Ground, 316, 317 

Committee to Reckon with the Town 
Treasurer and Auditors, see Town 
Officers 

Common, 192, 626. Great Plain, 587. 
Needham Heights, 587 

Communion service. First Church, 226, 
238. Congregational Church, 246. 
Methodist Church, 260. Ortho- 
dox Congregational Church in 
Grantville, 273, 274. Evangelical 
Congregational Church, 289, 290 

Communion Table, First Church, 239 

Conant, Marshall, 666, 667 

Concord, 165-167, 170, 296, 451, 485, 

573, 597 
Concrete walks, 103 
Conductors on the railroad, 421 
Confederate prisons, 498, 501, 504, 

505 
Conferences of Methodists, 259, 260 
Confirmation services, first held, 304 
Congregational Church in West Need- 
ham, see Churches 
Congregational Society of Grantville, 
see Wellesley Hills Congregational 
Society 



Constables, see Town Officers 
Constitutional Conventions, 170, 171, 

17s 

Continental Army, 459, 468-478 

Continental Currency, see Currency 

Controversy as to the interpretation of 
the Act of 1778, 156-158 

Convalescent Home, see Children's 
Hospital 

Convention of Ministers, 233 

Conventions, 165-168 

Cook — Cooke, Rev. Mr., 220. Ed- 
ward, 18, 63, 71, 316. Eliakim, 91, 
no, 114, 116, 174, 202, 203, 231, 
234, 238, 308, 336, 456, 461, 615, 
650, 657, 660, 678. Mrs. Eliakim, 
238. Elizabeth, 63. Jonas, 428. 
Nathan, 478. Prince, 566. Robert, 
10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 35, 41, 53, 55, 
71, 73, 74, 79, 81, 82, 84-86, no, 
n3, 137, 141, 142, 144, 164, 177, 
178, 180, 182, 194, 195, 198, 199, 
216-221, 223, 224, 229, 314, 332, 
368, 512, 516, 519, 645, 648, 658, 
659, 689. Robert, Jr., 437. Sam, 
469. Solomon, 233. Submit, 224. 
William, 18, 19, 435 

Cook family, 18, 19, 113 

Cook Street, 421 

Cook's Bridge, 18, 81, 82, 96, I13-I15, 
121, 130, 163, 341 

Coolidge, Miss, 207. Isaac, 339. 
John, 143, 144, 437. Rev. John 
W., 262, 264, 269. Samuel, 362 

Cooper, James, 473 

"Corn King of New England," 400 

Corn-mills, 46 

Cornet, played in church, 309. Players, 
631, 632 

Cornets, cavalry, 442 

Cornwallis, Lord, 447 

Coroners, see Town Officers 

Corporation tax, 534 

Cottage Street, 131 

Cotton, Rev. John, 219, 220, 224. Rev. 
Samuel, 234 

Cotton-batting-mill, 397 

Cotton-mill, 380, 381 

Coude, Mary, 13 

Coulter, Charles H., 626. J. Emery, 
624 

Council of Baptists, 249 

Council of Congregational Churches, 
272-276 

Council of Elders, 218, 235, 240 



INDEX 



703 



County Commissioners, 99, 101-104, 

122, 647 
County conventions, 164-167 
County officers, 647, 648 
County road, 102 

County tax, 153, 519, 525, 528, 530 
County Treasurer, 169, 170, 177, 534, 

683 
Courtenay, Charles S., 302, 441, 442 
Covenant meetings, 253 
Cowan, Rev. Percy D., 247 
Coye, Rev. Nehemiah, 261 
Craft — Crafts, Abner, 459, 469. 

Henry, 121, 609. Moses, 446, 541. 

Nathan F., 608. Nathaniel, 589. 

Thomas, 470 
Crafts Inn, 446 
Craghead, Rev. Mr., 218, 219 
Crane, Colonel, 469, 470. Luther, 385, 

389, 390. Rebekah, 390. Stephen, 

386. Zenas, 389, 390 
Crawford, Mary E., 618 
Crehore, Lemuel, 383, 384 
Cricket players, 599, 600 
Crimea, 441 
Crisp, Oliver, 271, 595 
Crocker, Rev. Mr., 219. William H., 

295, 424 
Cromack, Broker, 264 
Cromwell, Oliver, 567 
Crosby, Simon, 469, 470 
Crossman, Howard A., 525, 624. Mary 

M. (Mrs. Thomas J.), 364. Thomas 

J., 257, 581, 626, 664 
Croswell, John, his barn formerly 

Orthodox Church, 279, 298. His 

house formerly Unitarian Chapel, 

298 
Crowley, Charles H., 296, 297. Den- 
nis, 298 
Crown Point, N. Y., 429 
Crown Point Expedition, 528 
Crows, 642 
Crystal Wave Lodge, L O. of G. T., 

604 
Cuba, 428 
Cumecher, Job, 433 
Cumming — Cumings — Cummins, Aaron, 

527. Ceaser, 562. Clementina B., 

372. Joseph, 53. Lydia, 53. Moses, 

527. Pasince, 562. Thomas, 470 
Cunard steamship line, 544 
Cunningham, Joseph, 527. Richard, 

171, 273. Robert, 88, 211 
Cunningham's Pond, 138 



Cups given to Congregational Church, 
246. To First Church, 238 

Curfew law, 193 

Currency, 56, 107, 109, 231, 514-517. 
Continental, 116,482, 514, 521, 529, 
536 

Curtis, Mr., 123. A. C, & Son, 387. 
Allen C, 383, 385, 387. Charles, 
603. Frederick, 623. John, loi. 
Solomon, 382, 383, William, 383, 

38s 

Curtis's Flume, 123 

Cushing, Charles E., 632. Rev. Ste- 
phen, 269. Thomas, 165. Zach- 
ariah, 226 

Custodians of Public Grounds, see Town 
Officers 

Cutter, Charles K., 231, 539. Sarah 
C, 610 

Cutting, Mr., 447. Ephraim, 263. 
Nancy, 574 

■pVACEY, J.,B. &C., 102 

■*-^ Dadmun, Daniel, 98 

Daggett — Daggitt — Doged — Doggett, 
Mr., 544. Abia, 41. Moses, 458, 
466, 475, 476, 481. Samuel, 91, 
94, 135, 165, 168, 211, 334, 454, 
463, 473, 476, 484, 535, 651, 684. 
Samuel, Jr., 458, 467. William, 

431 

Daguerreotypes first taken in Needham, 
30 

Dall, Caroline W. H., 241, 672. Rev. 
Charles H. A., 241, 593, 672 

Dalrymple, Samuel, 307 

Damon's Brook, 215 

Dana, Mrs., 116 Charles B., 18, 125, 
353, 356, 357, 374, 669. Rev. Daniel, 
207. Denison D., 281. Luther, 158, 
323. Rev. Samuel H., 285 

Dana Hall, loi, 245, 374 

Danahy, Rev. Timothy J., 296, 297 

Dance, Charles W., 505 

Dances, 539, 626 

Dancing school, 539, 540 

Danforth, Rev. John, 218 

Daniell — Danell — Danels — Daniel 
— Daniels — Danils, Mr., 391. 
Abby, 539. Albert F., 295. George 
K., 100, 162, 181, 190, 277, 352, 485, 
490, 518, 577, 646-648, 654, 663. 
Jasper, 19. Jeremiah, 19, 123,307, 
342, 457, 481, 652. Joseph, 19, 74, 
79, 83, 89, 90, 198, 202, 216-218, 



704 



INDEX 



247, 319, 338, 339, 435, 457, 559, 
649, 650. Joseph, Jr., 116, 450, 
559, 661, 678. Lydia, 19. Mary, 
19. Moses G., 19. His Genealogy 
of the Daniell family, 19. Robert, 
19. Samuel, 19, 90, 211, 314, 333, 
435, 454, 650. Timothy, 226, 467 

Daniell family, 19 

Daniels Hill, 22 

Danvers, IMaple Street Church, 293 

Dartmouth, 235 

Dartmouth College, 237 

Daughters of the American Revolution, 
486 

Daughters of the Revolution, 486 

Davenport, Benjamin, 616, 632. Enoch, 
338. John, 22. Josiah, 284, 285. 
Sarah, 284, 617 

Daverson, Joseph, 469, 470 

Davis, Aaron, 454. George P., 587. 
Jonathan, 94. Moses, 203. Seth, 
609 

Dawson, Leonard, 376, 518, 519 

Day, Ebenezer, 94, 456, 461, 472, 652. 
Edward, 66. John, 120. Jona- 
than, 89, 91, 92, no, 1 18-120, 147, 
181, 203, 208, 308, 315, 440, 479, 
549, 554, 641, 651, 660, 687. Levi 
E., 257. Ralph, 204. Rebecca, 66 

Day's Bridge, 102, 105, 114, 116, 119, 
120, 130, 420 

" Deacon Could Be," 226, 691 

" Deacon Would Be," 691 

Deacons, First Church, 212, 225, 226, 
230. Congregational Church in 
West Needham, 247. First Bap- 
tist Church, 256, 257. Orthodox 
Congregational Church in Grant- 
ville, 280, 281. Evangelical Con- 
gregational Church, 293, 294 

Death, John, 26 

Deaths, 184, 188, 228, 324, 327. By 
accident, 23, 64, 233, 274. By 
violence, 22 

"Debating Society," 607 

Declaration of Independence, 181, 465 

Decoration Day, 507 

Dedham, 9-1 1, 13-16, 18-21, 23-26, 28, 

29, 32-34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 5i- 
59, 63, 64, 66-70, 72-76, 78, 80, 82, 
86, 92, 93, 103, III, 117-119, 130, 
132-137, 141, 142, 160, 164, 165, 
167, 188, 203, 216, 218, 219, 224, 
225, 231, 233, 23s, 237, 251, 283, 
315, 317, 335. 363, 368-370, 412, 



416, 418, 419, 430, 440, 442, 444- 
446, 450, 451, 466, 476, 478, 516, 
528, 541, 550, 568, 570, 602, 627, 

641, 647, 672. Boundary contro- 
versy, 73-75. Saint Paul's Church, 
307. Ministerial land setoff, 3 1 1, 
312. Working Men's Society, 606 

Dedham, Essex County, England, 77 

Dedham Avenue, 119, 418, 419 

Dedham Avenue Bridge, 119, 140 

Dedham Avenue Park, 587 

Dedham Historical Register, 24, 204, 
213, 226, 228, 324, 333 

Dedham Historical Society, 239, 629 

Dedham Island, 9, 24 

Dedham Meeting-house, 34 

Dedham School Farm, 32, 80 

Dedman, Daniel, 307, 665 

Deer, 642, 643 

Deer Island, 10 

Deerreaves, see Town Officers 

Dell — Deal — Dill, George, 469, 470. 
Timothy, 462 

Deming, Charles, 642. Rev. Daniel, 195, 
216-218. Jonathan, 88, no, 165, 
208, 209, 211, 234, 246, 479, 530, 
651. Moses, 475, see Daggett, 
Moses. Dr. William, 207, 548, 

557, 559, 568 

Democratic Party, 170, 171 

Denfield, Louis E., 595. Robert E., 595 

Denny, Charles, 608 

Deputy-Sheriffs, 647 

Derbyshire, England, 402 

Des Moines, steamer, 502 

Dewing — Duin — Duing, Andrew, 20, 
21, 32, 33, 55, 71, 80, 113, 142, 
194, 332, 368, 649. Benjamin F., 
21. His "Genealogy of the Dew- 
ings," 21. C. H. & G. W., 634. 
Caroline E., 364. Charles H., in, 
262, 264, 265, 270, 363, 370, 640, 663. 
Daniel, 143,437. David, 436. Dor- 
othy, 224. Ebenezer, 22. Edmund, 
20, 684. Henry, 20, 22, 92, 95, 1 10, 
208, 314, 429, 435, 450, 454, 461, 
561, 652, 672, 677, 684. Henry, 
Jr., 88, 487. Jeremiah, 21, 432. 
Jonathan, 20, 37, 60, 71, 143, 147, 
329. Joseph, 462. Joseph H., 
655. Josiah, 457. Lydia, 33. 
Martha, 61, 152, 211, 247. Moses, 
322. Nathan, 95, 157, 340, 438, 
440, 443, 468, 474, 477, 488, 563, 

642, 661. Nathan, Jr., 307. Na- 



INDEX 



705 



thaniel, 211, 259, 260. Paul, 347, 
387, 444, 449, 589, 630. Seth, 
688. Solomon, 21. Susanna, 225. 
Timothy, 116, 456, 476. Warren, 

97, 317, 398, 440, 447, 48s, 654 
Dewing family, 18, 20-22, S3, 84 
Dewing land, 20-22 
Dewing's Brook, 125, 126, 139 
Dewing's Hill, 397 
Dewing's peat-meadow, 397 
Dexter, Rev. Mr., 227. Rev. Henry M., 

27s 
Dike, Colonel, 464 
Dillaway, Charles H., 298. Laura G., 

300 
Dimond, W. R., 578 
Dinah Barn, 566 
Dinah Farm, 566 
Dinah School, 566 
Dinsmoor, Mrs. C. N., 371. Charles 

M., 250, 251, 371 
"Direct boards," 95 
Discomb — Descomb, Thomas, 454, 481, 

Thomas, Jr., 438 
Dividend, see Natick Dividend 
Division of the town into two parishes, 

207-212 
Division of Suffolk County, 164, 165 
Divisions of the town and changes in 

boundaries, 141-163 
Divoll, Leon, 397 
Dix, Mary J., 272. Samuel VV., 277, 

632, 689 
Dodd, John, 383 
Dodge, Rev. Oliver, 237 
Dodge's Cadet Band, 192, 626 
Doe seen, 643 
Dog Corner, 48, 135, 541 
Dog taxes, 375, 534, 643, 644 
Dogs, 638, 643, 644 
Dolan, Rev. Michael, 295 
Dolbeare — Dolbier, Benjamin, 463, 471, 

474, 475 
Dominion steamship line, 544 
Donovan, Rev. Denis H., 296. George 

D., 297 
Door, Rev. Mr., 234 
Doors of Second Meeting-house, 205 
Dorchester, 10, 18, 48, 218, 430, 461, 

617. Saint Paul's Church, 296 
Dorchester, Canada, 18 
Dorchester Heights, 460-462, 464, 480, 

481 
Dorety, Barney & Son, 124, 125 
Dover, 52, 78, 95, 98, 100, 120, 122, 152- 



^^$, 243, 249, 250, 283, 334, 344, 
356, 391, 419, 420, 442-444, 49S, 
509, 512, 539, 570, 612, 617, 647. 
Baptist Church, 249, 250. School 
Land, 159, 162, 368-370. Unita- 
rian Church, 243 

Dover Historical Society, 569 

Dover Iron Works, 392 

Dover Lyceum, 607, 608 

Dow, Rev. Hendricus, 237. Henry A. 
T., 30s 

Downer — Downna, Eliphalet, 568 

Downes, William, 304 

Dowse, Rev. Edward, 273 

Drainage, 103 

Drawing taught in schools, 359, 360 

Dresser, Albert B., 293-295 

Dring, James, 599 

Drinking-fountains, 584 

Driscoll, Ellen E., 297 

Drury, Caleb, 22. Elizabeth, 23. Mrs. 
Elizabeth, 362. Ephraim, 23, 372, 
373. Joseph, 22, 23, 26, 27, 92, 150, 
437, 457, 481. Lydia, 23 

Drury family, 22, 23 

Dublin, N. H. Association, 256 

Dudley, Harriet E. (Mrs. Ezra C), 363, 
Gov. Joseph, 68, 72, 73. Gov. 
Thomas, 11, 25 

Dudley Hosiery Company, 385 

Duel, 621 

Dufheld, Derbyshire, England, 407 

Dug Hill, 136 

Dummer, William, 141 

Dunn — Dun, Francis de M., 355, 375, 
376, 379, 668. Jonathan, 458, 465, 
478. Joseph, 437. Riella J., 375, 
376. William, 433 

Dunn family, 63 

Dunton, Mr., 583. Larkln, 424. Reu- 
ben, 436. William, 565 

Durant, Adolphus, 307, 385. Edward, 
22. Henry F., 103, 356, 373, 374. 
Mrs. Henry F., 53, 103, 373, 391, 
486. William, 307, 385 

Durbin, Margaret E., 297 

Dust suppression, 105 

Duties of Highway Surveyors, 107- 
112 

Dwight— Dwit, Henr>% 368. Michael, 
29. Seth, 368. Timothy, 55, 66, 
360, 368 

Dwight School Fund, 369, 533 

Dwight School-house, 355, 360, 687. 
Teachers, 364 



7o6 



INDEX 



Dwyer, Catherine, 6i8 
Dyer, Nathaniel, 477 

EARTHQUAKE, 51, 227, 634 
East Company, Militia, 440, 441, 
443, 451. 452. Captains, 440, 441. 
Muster-roll, 456, 457 
East High School, 353, 354, 357, 595 
East High School Alumni Association, 

354 

East Medway, 272 

East Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses 

East Needham, 127, 154, 212, 242, 283, 
323, 324, 347, 366, 374, 380, 393, 
401, 414, 422, 424, 451, 507, 545, 

569, 571, 576, 584, 585, 593, 595, 

630, 633 
East Parish, see Parishes, First Parish 
East Samara, Philippines, 511 
East school district, 344, 349, 367 
East school-house, 357. Teachers, 363, 

364 

East Street, 102, 284, 423 

Eastman, Rev. Lucius R., 284, 290, 291. 
Lucius R., Jr., 284, 371. Sarah A., 
284. Rev. William R., 275 

Eaton — Eattin — Eton, — ,461. Adeline 
M., 363. Alger E., 640, 644. 
Annie M., 298. Augustus, 24, 73, 
212, 324, 370, 608. Charles M., 
298. Elizabeth, 298. Eulaha, 51. 
Everett J., 207, 582, 640, 647, 655, 
664. Florence E., 364. George 
E., 319, 321, 325, 449, 525, 541, 
663. Hannah A., 298. Harvey, 
384. Henry P., 384. Jeremiah, 
23, 24, 50, 87, 92, 93, 114, 173, 435, 
456, 462. Jeremiah, Jr., 461, 480. 
John, 23, 24, 32. John A., his "Ac- 
count of the Eatons," 24. Josiah, 
23, 24, 87, 92, 115, 116, 167, 174, 
181, 208, 233, 309, 310, 422, 450, 
461, 468, 577, 651. Josiah, Jr., 
456. Lemuel, 456, 466, 467, 480. 
Moses, 456, 462, 466, 467. Re- 
becca, 298, 300. Samuel, 481. 
William, 23, 24, 81, 82, 97, 120, 
136, 310, 348-350, 456, 480, 485, 
546, 654. William, Jr., 24, 324, 
346, 347, 589, 607 

Eaton & Moulton, 384, 579 

Eaton family, 23, 24, 244, 310 

Eaton, Moulton & Jordan, 384 

Eaton's stable, 612 



Eayrs, William N., 603 

Eberhardt, Alice H., 378 

Ecclesiastical, 194-215 

Ecclesiastical Councils, 283, 285-288, 
290 

Echo Bridge, 128 

Eddy, Rev. Mary B., her "Science and 
Health," 305 

Edes — Eades, Widow, 24. Amos, 458, 
460. Benjamin, 468, 469. Collins, 
458, 460, 469. Jeremiah, 458, 460. 
John, 24, 211, 247. John, Jr., 455, 
463, Nathan, 435. Oliver, 24. 
Peter, 24, 86, 88, iio, 174, 199, 
314, 637, 660. Samuel, 456, 461. 
Sarah, 211 

Edes family, 24 

Edison Electric Illuminating Company, 
586 

Edmund, Samuel, 435 

Edson, Josiah, 559 

Edwards, Rev. Jonathan, 276, 280, 282, 
285, 286. His salary, 276 

EfHngham, N. H., 667 

Egan, Bridget, 327. Patrick, 327 

Elastic goods made, 407, 409 

Elastic stockings made, 407, 409 

Eldridge, WilUam T., 618 

Electric Light Loan, 361, 585 

Electric lights put in Meeting-house, 
206 

Electric motors, 412 

Eliot, Rev. John, 78, 360 

"Eliot, The," Wellesley College, 391 

Eliot Engine Company, Newton, 579 

Eliot Falls Electric Light Company, 585, 
586 

Eliot Lodge, L O. O. F., 591 

Eliot School, 360, 361, 364, 378 

Eliot's Mills, 130 

Elliot, Simon, 383, 582 

Elliot Manufacturing Company, 381. 
Savings department, 381, 382 

Ellis, Abijah, 363. Abner, 117. David 
380, 381. Eleazer, 512. Jabez, 
345. Rev. John, 237. Jonathan, 
96, 160, 215, 589, 601. Joshua, 225. 
Rufus, 163, 380, 383. Rufus, & 
Co., 380. Timothy, 195. Wil- 
liam, 313 

Ellis Paper Mill, 380 

Ellis's Mills Bridge, 114, 115 

Elm beetles, 614 

Elmer, Rev. Daniel, 219 

Elms, 61, 104 



INDEX 



707 



Elmwood Park Hotel, 446, 541 

EI7, Frederick D., 190 

Emerson, Rev. George H., 242 

Emery, Rev. Nathan, 260 

Emmons, Mary B., 206 

Engine Companies, 576-580 

Engine-houses, 579 

Enginemen, 576, 577 

Engineer Corps, Civil War, 505 

Engineers on the railroad, 421, 422 

Engineers, Fire Department, Water 

Department, see Town Officers 
English, Elizabeth, 472. Elizabeth M., 

472. John, 460, 469, 472 
English families in Needham, 402, 403, 

405, 406 
Ensigns, militia, 441. Norfolk Rifle 

Rangers, 449 
Ephraim, Indian, 10 
Episcopal Churches, 301-305. See 

Churches, Christ Church, Holy 

Trinity Mission 
"Epitaphs from Graveyards in Welles- 
ley (formerly West Needham), 

North Natick, and Saint Mary's 

Churchyard in Newton Lower 

Falls," 327 
"Epitaphs from the Old Burying 

Ground," 324 
Esparto grass, 387 
Essex County, 170, 673 
Essex County, England, 77 
Estabrook, Rev. Frank P., 288, 293 
Estey — Esty, Elijah, 307. Reuben, 

338 
Ether, 628 

Eustis, Thomas, 342. William, 170 
Evangelical Congregational Church, see 

Churches 
Evangelical Congregational Society, 

284-287, 289-291. Its officers and 

Standing Committee, 290, 291. Its 

Clerks, 295. Its Treasurers, 295 
Evans — Evens, Annie E., 286. Charles, 

270. George, 286. Robert, 392 
Evans Collar Company, 385 
Evanston, 111., 542 
Everett, Rev. Mr., 239, Percival L., 

590. William, 307 
Ewing, Charles, 631 
Exempt property, 533 
Exempts, War of 18 12, 486-489 
Expedition against Canada, 231 
Ezra Newell Fuller Camp, Sons of 

Veterans, 508 



PAGGOTS, 392 

*■ Fairbanks, Deacon, 53. David, 
431. Rev. George, 261. Lemuel, 
640 

Fairbanks barn, 240 

Fairbanks scales, 683 

Fairchild, Rev. Joy H., 283 

Fairhaven, Vt., 241, 452 

Fales, Henry E., 190, 415 

Fanning, Fred L., 509. Philip, 297 

Farie, Alexander, 429 

Farlis, Benjamin, 387 

Farnham, David S., 354 

Farrell, Rev. William J., 296 

Farrington, Ichabod, 478 

Farris — Faris — Fariss, James, 460, 468, 
473, 475, 537- Phebe, 565. Wil- 
liam, 148, 149, 155, 214, 232, 339, 
341, 460, 565, 609, 648, 652 

Farris family, 565 

Farrow, John, 431. Nathan, 433 

Farwell, Isaac, 389. Rev. Parris T., 
278 

Farwell & Conant, 389 

Fast Days, 227, 233, 271, 273. Ser- 
mon, 244 

Faulkner, Mary J., 300 

Felch, Ebenezer, 143. John, 149 

Fellows, John, 431, 432 

Felt — Feltt, Abner, 458, 462. Moses, 
211,431,432,454 

Felton, Daniel, no. Isaac, 540, 589 

Fence viewers, see Town Officers 

Field, Hopestill, 429. Robert, 436 

Field drivers, see Town Officers 

Fife players, 631 

Fifth Maryland Regiment, 138 

Finance Committee, see Town Officers 

Financial, 512-537. Currency and 
town debts, 514-517. Town debt, 
517, 518. Committee to reckon 
with the Town Treasurer and 
Auditors, 518, 519. Assessment 
of taxes — Assessors, 519-522. Col- 
lection of taxes — Collectors, 522- 
525. Duties of the taxpayers, 

525, 526. Abatement of taxes, 

526, 527. Miscellaneous tax items, 

527, 528. Province tax, 528-530. 
Census and statistics, 530-535. 
Prices of commodities, 535-537 

Finishing-nails made, 398 
Finncgan, Rev. John, 260, 262 
Fire-alarm system, 579-581 
Fire-companies, 576-580, 633 



7o8 



INDEX 



Fire Department, 576-581 

Fire dogs, 342 

Fire-engines, 576 

Firemen, 394, 576, 577 

Firemen's Relief Association, 581 

Firewards, see Town Officers 

First Baptist Society, 250 

First Church in Needham, see Churches 

First Church of Christ Scientist, see 
Churches 

First Congregational Church, see 
Churches, Evangelical Congrega- 
tional Church 

First Congregational Church, Wellesley 
Hills, see Churches, Orthodox Con- 
gregational Church in Grantville 

First Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses, First Church 

First New Hampshire Regiment, 255 

First Parish, see Parishes 

First Parish Guild, 306 

First Regiment of Infantry, 440, 441, 

444 

First settlement of Needham, 9-67 

First Suffolk Regiment, 440, 441, 461 

Fish, 644 

Fisher, Aaron, 456, 466, 467. Allen, 
392. Anthony, 11, 24. Caleb, 
627. Cornelius, 13. Daniel, 11,24, 
32,80,137,312-314. Deborah, 24. 
Ebenezer, 25, 196, 203, 206, 308, 
323, 339. 437. 648, 651, 678. 
Elizabeth, 61. Esther, 328. Fran- 
cis D., 298. George, 97, 108, 120, 
158, 159, 161, 215, 226, 345, 362, 
485, 646, 652, 662, 665. Gordon, 
302. Jabez, 169. Jeremiah, 14, 24, 
25, 57, 174, 199, 314. 333. 647, 
650, 657, 665, 677. John, 24, 25, 
46, 55, 61, 66, 67, 71, 74. 84-87, 
89, 91, 94, 108, 113, 114, 117, 121, 
141, 144, 167, 173, 174, 181, 182, 
184, 194-196, 198-203, 208, 216, 
217, 219-221, 223, 229, 233, 249, 
314, 315, 328, 369, 437, 472, 475, 
512, 513, 562, 638, 639, 645, 648, 
649, 651, 657, 658, 683. John, Jr., 
220, 225, 435, 647, 660, 683, 687. 
John D., 317. Jonathan, 108. 
Joseph, 95, 394, 468, 477, 488. 
Joshua, 136, 137. Josiah, 456, 459. 
462, 476, 478. "Liddy," 26, 333. 
Mary, 362. Mehitable, 616. Na- 
thaniel, 89, 92, 95, 108, 117, 118, 
121, 168, 183, 208, 234, 23s, 



31S. 336, 450, 467, 472, 480, S15, 
530, 639, 645, 648, 651, 658, 660. 
Nathaniel, Jr., 456, 461, 466. 
Philip A., his "Genealogy of the 
Fisher family," 26. Rebecca, 224. 
Samuel, 26, 116, 256, 461, 483. 
Sarah E., 298. Simeon, 203, 456, 
459. Thomas, 53, 456, 459, 468, 
469, 479. Timothy, 456, 461 

Fisher family, 24-26, 245 

Fisher's Bridge, 95, 114, 121, 122, 130, 
249 

Fisher's Meeting Road, 21, I2I 

Fisher's Mill, 26, 108, 130 

Fisher's Road, 95 

Fishkill, New York, 460, 477, 478 

Fisk — Fiske, Aaron, 264. Elijah, 27. 
Emery, 27, 161, 163, 171, 278, 646, 
654, 663. Enoch, 27, 95, 96, no, 
215, 313, 339. 340, 462, 480, 648, 
652,661. Isabella H., 27. Isaiah, 27, 
307,487, 601,666. Joseph E., 163, 
275, 276, 279, 281, 358, 373, 507, 
578, 645, 646, 655, 668. Joshua, 
27, 150, 214. Moses, 17, 23, 26, 27, 
92, 125, 144, 150, 168, 336, 338-341, 
437, 439, 481, 516, 563. 652, 661. 
Nathaniel, 430, 431. Peter, 569. 
Samuel, 27. Susan W., 668. 
Thomas, 459. 

Fisk — Fiske family, 26, 27 

Fiske Dormitory, 343 

Fissell & Wagner, 377 

Fitchburg, 447 

Fitzgerald, John H., 297, 396, 423 

Flag House Hill, 99 

Flagg, Charles H., 30, 264, ^65, 270, 359 
Eben, 444, 603, 631. Elisha, 488, 
631. Esther, 617. Isaac, 401, 631 
Lydia, 472. Solomon, 19, 185 
187, 309, 343, 346, 352, 363, 369: 
458, 459. 467. 469-472, 485. 489: 
524, 539. 631, 657, 659, 662, 688 
Solomon, Jr., 309, 631, 646, 653 
663, 666. William, 98, 100, 131 
162, 181, 189, 247, 349, 351, 543 
SS^, 576, 578, 601, 607, 646, 648: 
653, 659, 663, 666, 688 

Flagg family, 343, 630 

Flagg's Band, 631 

Flagg's Tavern, 539 

Flags, given to schools, 355. Put on 
graves of Revolutionary soldiers, 
485. Silk flag given to Galen Orr 
Post, 507 



INDEX 



709 



Flaherty, Rev. Michael T., 296 

Flanders, Samuel, 570 

Fleming, Elizabeth, 617 

Florence, S. C, 505 

Florence Avenue, 131 

Florence Grove, 131 

Floyd — Floid, Philip, 17,458, 460,462, 
550. Samuel, 114 

Floyd place, 403 

Flute played in church, 309 

Foley, Patrick J., 297. Mrs. Patrick 
J-, 297 

Foot-bridges, 114, 121, 124, 127, 128 

Ford, James, 648. Maria L., 668 

Fords, 114, 115 

Forest firewards, see Town OfRcers 

Forest Street, 15, 131 

Forsyth, Samuel, 54 

Fort Cumberland, 433 

Fort Edward, 430, 431 

Fort Gray, Plymouth, N. C, 504 

Fort Sumter, 442 

Fort Warren, 487 

Fortress Monroe, 502 

Foster, Captain, 469, 470. Charles H. 
W., 21, 52, 65, 563. Rev. Emer- 
son, 237. John, 474 

Fowle, George, B., 304. Samuel 0., 639 

Fowler, Edmond B., 191 

Fowler's Block, 426 

Fowler's Hall, 305 

Fox, Joseph, 474 

Fox meadow, 81 

Foxcroft, Rev. Mr., 220 

Foxhounds, 644 

Framingham, 63, 218, 224, 311, 371, 

509, 549, 570 
Francis, Colonel, 463. Charles, 387. 

Tappan E., 570 
Frankland, Sir Henry, 565 
Franklin Telegraphic Company, 586 
Frazer, William, 559 
Fredericksburg, Va., 495 
Free Public Library, see Needham Free 

Pubhc Library 
Freeman, Mr., 151, 211. Estelle R., 

305. William, 403 
Fremont Park, 423, 425 
French, Calvin, 249 
French and Everett, 443 
French and Indian War, 429-436, 452, 

453 
French Neutrals, 555-558 
Fries, August, 630. Henry D. C, 630. 

Wulf, 630 



Frost, Edmund, 27. Ezekiel C, 295. 
Margaret, 65. P., Jr., 577. Sam- 
uel, 25. Thomas, 27, 63, 86, 130, 
141 

Frothingham, Benjamin, 46, Mary, 
46. Samuel, 46 

Frye, Colonel, 462 

Fude, Boston, 566 

Fugitive Slave Law, 567 

Fullam — FuUham, Jacob, 430, 43 1, 43 5, 
560 

Fuller — ffuller — Fuler, Alvin, 226, 589, 
Alvin, 2d, 554. Amos, 14, 29, 85, 
87, 90, 92, 118, 134, 145, 147, 
154, 164, 165, 181, 183, 185, 186, 
197, 201, 203, 208, 234, 235, 240, 
248, 323, 336, 339, 340, 362, 369, 
427, 479, 482, 514, 516, 520, 529, 

53°, 535, 547, 555, 557, 559, 645, 
649, 651, 658, 660, 661. Amos, Jr., 
196, 198, 233, 234, 314, 315, 456, 
461, 462, 464, 637, 640, 653, 687. 
Asa, III. Augustus, 215, 247, 353, 
449; Benjamin, 161, 653. Cath- 
arine E., 30, 238. Charles, 250, 257. 
Mrs. Charles, 251. Charlotte, 207. 
Daniel, 328. David, 479. Eben- 
ezer, 90, 92, 116, 118, 203, 440, 450, 
482, 488, 489, 561, 589, 651, 653. 
Edward G., 30, 35,87, 637. Edwin, 
326. Eleazer, 29, 1 16, 202, 450, 456, 
461, 462, 471, 482. Elijah, 456, 

459, 468, 662. Elisha, 463, 474, 
479, 480. Enoch, 159, 648, 662. 
Esther, 39. Widow Esther, 615. 
Esther (Fisher), 328. Esther 
(Kingsbery), 197. Ezra, 30, 73, 
362, 618, 619. Ezra, Jr., 539. 
Ezra N., 508. Francis L., 417. 
Frank L., 133, 281, 655. Granville, 
353. Hannah, 134. Hezekiah, 29, 
58, 85, 207, 247, 276, 281, 321, 324, 
349, 350, 601, 655. J. Franklin, 
102. Jeremiah, 116, 197. John, 
17, 28-30, 78, 79, loi, 211, 454, 458, 

460, 462, 470, 473-475, 660. Mrs. 
John, 198. John, Jr., 211, 460, 477. 
Jonas, 30. Jonathan, 30, 159-161, 
320, 326, 353, 440, 488, 665. Jona- 
than, Jr., 30, 350, 654. Judith, 46. 
Mercy, 17. A'loses, 29, 134, 458, 
463, 657, 659, 661. Nathan, 433. 
Richard, 428. Robert, 28, 29, 35, 
41, 44, 48, 71, 76, 79, 81, 83, 85, 86, 
90, 92, 93, 113, 114, 116, 144, 164, 



710 



INDEX 



167, 168, 173, 174, 180, 181, 184, 
186, 187, 199, 202, 216, 217, 219, 

233» 247, 3". 314, 322, 332. 335. 
368, 435, 436, 461, 465, 514, 515, 
S20, 523, 530, 550, 558, 620, 64s, 
649, 650, 657, 658, 660. Robert, 
Jr., 435, 450, 456, 462, 465, 471, 
480,482, 557, 633, 652, 660. Sam- 
uel, 473,481. Sarah, 318. Solomon, 
126, 140, 335, 456, 461. Spencer, 
98, 99, 34S> 347-349, 552, 607, 654, 
663, 665. Thomas, 28, 71, 73, 80- 
82, 84, 85, 92, 173, 181, 194-196, 
198, 202, 219, 220, 328, 456, 461, 
514, 515, 649, 651, 657, 658, 660, 
671. Timothy, 362, 372, 373, 569, 
652, 657. Timothy O., 30, 186, 392. 
Timothy S., 318. William, 94, 95, 
123, 152, 164, 167, 181, 211, 439, 
441, 457, 471, 473, 475, 478, 479, 
488, 516, 536, 549, 645, 646, 648, 
651, 661. 

Fuller Dam, Amos, 393, 395 

Fuller family, 28-30, 175, 176, 244, 245, 

334 
Fuller Land, 320, 425 
Fuller Tomb, 318, 319 
Fuller's Brook, 160 
Fuller's Road, 29 
Fulling-mills, 46, 130, 383-385 
Fulton, Mr., 61 
Funeral cars, 321 
Funerals, 321-324 
Furber, Rev. Daniel L., 286 
Furnace, in Congregational Church, 246. 

In First Church, 206 
Further Lights Society, 253 

/^AGE, Rev. Nathaniel, 241. Gov. 

^-' Thomas, 210, 435 

Gahaghan, Thomas, 297. Mrs. Thomas, 

297 
Gaine's Mills, Va., 495 
Gale, Henry, 455, 460 
Galen Orr Post, G. A. R., 485, 507-509, 

571 

Galen Orr Relief Corps, 508 

Gallant, Mary, 297 

Gardner, Gardiner, Andrew, 432, 433, 
459. Andrew G., 356, 357. Dan- 
iel, 429-431, 435. Elbridge, 274, 
282. Henry, 450, 529. John, 472. 
Thomas, 14, 88, 429. Thomas, Jr., 

233 
Gardner & Fuller, 350 



Garfield, George, 31. John, 31. Moses, 

31, 99, 114, 118, 120, 123, 319, 

343, 346, 384, 385, 441, 487, 550, 
552, 601, 6q6, 607, 652, 665. 
Moses, 2d, 31, 654 

Garfield family, 31 

Garfield Lodge, Sons of St. George, 593 

Garfield mill, 384 

Garfield tomb, 31 

Garrison, William L., 594 

Gas Lighting Company, 586 

Gasoline engines, 412 

Gavett, Charles, 298, 300. Sarah A., 
298 

Gay, Aaron, 32. Asa, 461, 481. Ben- 
jamin, 80. Rev. Bunker, 233, 234. 
Calvin, 160, 440, 554. Ebenezer, 
475. George H., 362, 618, 619. 
Hannah, 616. Hezekiah, 32, 119. 
Ichabod, 477. Jeremiah, 85, 147, 

435, 458, 460, 463, 473, 474- 
John, 14, 32, 40, 76, 463, 468, 469. 
Jonathan, 32, 36, 45, 48, 74, 80, 
88, 94, 96, 97, 154, 159, 160, 163, 
174, 194, 215, 216, 310, 316, 324, 
343, 435, 441, 442, 456, 461, 
467, 480, 482, 485, 551, 554, 652, 
657, 659, 662, 665, 684. Jonathan, 
Jr., 362, 545, 645. Lucy, 310. 
Mary, 310, 615. Nathaniel, 32, 
78. Oliver, 475,476, 537. Rachel 
B., 617. Samuel, 32, 435, 479. 
Timothy, 167. William, 449, 479 

Gay family, 32, 244 

Gay Farm, 22, 53, 452, 540 

Gay-Reynolds place, 20, 22, 122 

Gay's Tavern, 164 

Geese, wild, 139 

General School Committee, see Town 
Officers, School Committee 

General valuation, 520, 521, 665 

George, John, 428 

Gilbert, Rev. Lyman, 272, 273 

Gill, Benjamin, 477. Israel, 317. John, 

32, 66, 71, 197, 307. Sarah, 

57 
Glancy, Catherine, 297. Margaret, 

617 
Glancy family, 54, 117, 583 
Gleason, Rev. John F., 286, 292 
Glover, Frederick P., 3 13, 655. Samuel, 

430,431 
Gloves for funerals, 321 
Gloves made, 400, 401, 403, 405-410 
Glue manufactured, 392, 393, 409, 410 



INDEX 



7n 



Goats, 531 

Godfrey, Henry, Jr., 304, 361 

Golden Cross, United Order of the, 592 

Golf Club, 600 

Good Templars, Independent Order of, 
604 

Good Templars Hall, Odd Fellows 
Building, 191 

Goodenow — Goodanow, Ebenezer, 477. 
Elijah, 437. Isaac, 32, 33, 437, 
440, 462, 483. Isaac, Jr., 437, 454, 
466, 467, 482, 483, 522. John, 23, 
27, 32, 33, 86, 130, 141-144, 331, 
642, 650, 660. Mrs. John, 33. 
Lydia, 33. Ruth, 33. William, 

Goodenow family, 32, 33 

Goodenow farm, 389 

Gordon, John, 611 

Gorham, John J., 449. Th., 538 

Gorse, Frank VV., 407, 600. Phebe, 269. 

William, 267-270, 361, 376, 379, 

407, 599, 656 
Goss & Russell, 391 
Gould, Daniel, 211, 454, 459, 462. 

Samuel, 159, 160, 309, 362, 563, 

569, 570, 624, 653, 657, 662. Seth, 

438 
Gove, Rev. John, 26 1 
Governor's Council, see Massachusetts, 

Council 
Grace, Lieut. J., 473 
Grafton, Rev. Joseph, 248 
Grand Army of the Republic, 426, 507- 

509 

Grant, Mr., 469, 470. Daniel, 654. 
James H., 61, 571. Moses, 278, 
383,391. Moses, Jr., 382 

Grantville, 162, 226, 242, 283, 350, 352- 
354, 356, 370, 413, 447, 507, 543, 
545, 572, 578, 594. _ Depot, 100. 
Orthodox Congregational Church, 
271-282. Post-office, 543. School- 
house, 350, 354, 356-358, 507- 
Teachers, 363. Unitarian Society, 
297-301 

Grantville Hotel, 100 

Grantville Religious Society, see Wel- 
lesley Hills Congregational Society 

Grantville Society, see Wellesley Hills 
Congregational Society 

Grantville Street Light Company, 584 

Gravediggers, 322, 323, 397 

Gravel banks, 96, 102, 103, 587 

Graves, Annie E., 286. William, 480 



Gravestones, 18, 19, 38, 41, 61, 149, 316, 
318-320 

Graveyard, see Needham Cemetery 

Gray, Mr., 174. Harrison, 450, 529, 
James, 478, 611 

Greany, George, 505 

Great Britain, ship, 544 

"Great Dane" sweaters made, 401 

Great Island, 69 

Great Plain — Playn, 20, 23, 24, 29,35, 
40, 53, 58, 61, 64, 66, 67, 79, 82, 84, 
85, 87, 95, 135-137, 249, 295, 302, 
371, 414, 423, 424, 579-581, 587, 
605, 631, 634, 673, 674. Plan of 
village, 423 

Great Plain Avenue, 78, 79, 83, loi, 
103, 104, 418-420. Elms removed, 
104 

Great Plain school district, 340, 342- 
344, 347, 349, 352, 360, 367 

Great Plain school-house, 249, 282, 332, 
333, 335, 337-340, 342, 346, 347, 
350, 357, 358- Teachers, 362-364 

Greaton, Colonel, 469, 470 

Greeley, Edith B., 599 

Green— Greene, Ellen M., 284, 289. 
Joseph, 386, 387. Mariette R., 
289, 320. Newport, 567. Rachel, 
37. Rev. Roland, 237. Samuel 
A., 116. Rev. William B., 284, 
289, 292, 353, 668 

Green Street, 346, 583 

Greendale, 357, 360, 566, 580 

Greendale Avenue, 87, 102 

Greendale Chemical and Electric Light- 
ing Co., 586 

Greene Mausoleum, 320 

Greenhouses, 400 

Greenwood, Aaron, 307. Abijah, 29, 
320, 325, 347, 348, 351, 441- 
Charles C, 29, 67, 185, 353, 370, 
608, 614, 646, 654, 658, 663. His 
"Epitaphs from the Old Burying 
Ground, Needham," 324. Isaac, 
H., 251, 396, 603. John W., 29. 
Joseph, 387. Lyman, 576. Myra S. 
(Mrs. Charles C), 18, 46, 197, 
260, 610. Samuel, 211, 247, 454. 
Sarah, 263 

Greenwood & White Building, 604 

Greenwood family, 262 

Greenwood oak, 603, 613 

Gregory — Gergery, Elijah, 431, 432 

Grenville, S. C, 509 

Griggs place, 52 



712 



INDEX 



Grist-mills, io8, 130, 131, 139, 381, 385, 

389, 390, 395, 397 
Grove Street, Natick, 27, 88, loi, 105 
Grover, Edwin M., 647. Emery, 133, 

181, 185, 189, 190, 192, 193, 290, 

291, 325, 353, 425, 441, 590, 

626, 645, 647, 6(>T. Simeon, 357. 

Thomas E., 190 
Guanica, Puerto Rico, 510 
Guantanamo, Cuba, 510 
Guelph, Canada, 408 
Guide boards, 95 
Guild, Aaron, 464. Lieut.-Gov. Curtis, 

Jr., 377. Samuel, 73, 312 
Gurney, John, 486 
Gymnasium, 254, 267, 609 
Gypsy moths, 614 

tJAGAR, David, 455. Joseph, 487 
''■ "*■ Hackett, George H., 573 
Hahaton, or Nehoiden, William, 9, 10, 

18, 74, 189, 627 
Hahaton Field, 9, 47, 81 
Hale, Rev. Mr., 73, 216. Elmina, 381 
Halifax, N. S., 187, 232, 617 
Hall, Abner, 477, 480. Charles S., 

408, 510. David, 33, 362, 437, 

454, 467, 565- Dorothy, 33, 362. 

Mrs. Dorothy, 33. Hopestill, 463. 

James S., 176. John, 33, 92. Rev. 

Joshua, 260, 262. Mary, 33. 

Thomas, 33, 437, 454, 510. 

William J., 510 
Hall family, 33 
Hall farm, 33 
Hamlett, Luther J., 421 
Hammersley, Samson, 304 
Hammond, Benjamin, 167 
Hanchett & Morse, 389 
Hancks, Christopher, 391 
Hancks & Hagar, 391 
Hancock, Maj-Gen., 479. John, 169 
Hanks place, 82, 338 
Harding, Hannah K., 618. Rev. Sewell, 

272 
Hardon, Jacob, 554 
Hardwick, 38 

Hardy, George H., 290, 291. Su- 
sanna, 284 
Harleston, England, if 
Harley, William A., 505 
Harlow, Alden, 285, 286, 290, 291, 293, 

Alden T., 295. Rev. R. W., 269 
Harrington, Joseph, 190. Rev. Tyler, 

259, 261, 263, 264 



Harris, Adeline E. (Mrs. John M.), 355, 
363, 668. Elizabeth, 627. Esther, 
44. John, 44, 140. Rev. John 
L., 27s, 280. John M., 119, 133, 
140, 360, 578, 646, 659, 668. Mary, 
362. Michael, 44, 116, 134, 341, 
362, 440, 441, 481, 488, 662, 663, 
688. Michael, Jr., 309, 688. Na- 
thaniel, 220. Susanna, 284. Rev. 
Thaddeus M., 237 

Harris Avenue, 419 

Harris School, 357, 360, 364 

Harris Tomb, 319 

Harrison, Pres. William H., 170 

Hartwell, Mary, 57 

Harvard, Methodist Society, 262 

Harvard College, 219, 510. Graduates, 
372, 373- Botanic Gardens, 400 

Harvey, Rev. Adiah, 371, 372, S(}j , 
Stephen P., 191, 250, 401, 423 

Harvey family, 371 

Harwich, 211 

Haselton & Fuller, 121, 122 

Hasenfus, Lewis, 297 

Haskell, Asa L., 293. Job, 362 

Haskins, Captain, 476 

Hastings, Dana, 307. John, 301, 307, 
459, 469, 487- John, Jr., 307. 
Josiah, 487. Oliver, 247 

Hat-factories, 393 

Hats made, 393 

Hatch, Isaac A., 398. Isaac A., & Co., 

399 

Hatch, Ashwell & Co., 398 

Haughton, Rev. Ralph J., 287, 288, 292 

Haven, George B., 294. Rev. Jason, 
234, 235, 237. John, 335. John 
A., 203. Rev. Joseph, 335. Rev. 
Joseph, Jr., 272, 273 

Haverhill, 398 

Hawaii, 628 

Hawes — Haws, Mrs., 60. Anna, 34. 
Daniel, 438. David, 34. Debo- 
rah, 34. Mrs. Deborah, 34. Ed- 
mund C, 421. Edward, 34, 258, 
390. Elizabeth, 34. Jeremiah, 
34, 211. Jonathan, 34. Joseph, 
34. 35. 55, 71, 79, 80, 83, 85, 87, 
211, 314, 458, 460, 462, 463,469, 
472, 480, 615, 637, 639, 649. Jo- 
seph, Jr., 458, 462, 464. Josiah, 
34. 433-435, 452, 460. Lewis E., 
583. Sarah, 34 

Hawes Brook, 34, 130, 390 

Hawes Electric Company, 586 



INDEX 



713 



Hawes family, 34, 35 

Hawes field, 35, 79 

Hawes Hundred, 34, 390 

Hawes Pasture, 35 

Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, 408 

"Hawk " Aaron, 233, 335, 451, 482, 540, 

661 
Hayes — Hays, Rev. William E., 303, 

304. Stephen, 99 
Haynes, Daniel, 125 
Haywards, see Town Officers 
Hazelton, Rev. Benjamin, 261. Isaac 

H., 275, 572, 573, 668 
Healey, Caroline Wells, 241 
Health Officer, see Town Officers 
Hearse-houses, 321 
Hearses bought, 246, 321 
Heath, Isaiah W., 421. John, 421. 

William, 169, 456, 457, 461 
Heikle — Heckle, Caroline W., 279. 

William, 279, 358 
Hemingway, Jacob, 460, 481 
Hemlock Gorge Reservation, 10 
Henderson, Mr., 446. David, 466, 478. 

David F., 442. John, 617 
Henry, John, 469, 470 
Henshaw, Sarah H., 299. William, 298, 

300 
Herd yard, 35, 37 
Herdman, Edward G., 288 
Hewins, Deacon, 315 
Hewitt, Salmon S., 380. Walter, 655 
Hewitt's Pit, 190 
Hicks, Alice M., 379. Charles A., 133, 

416, 418, 419, 424, 582, 594. Rev. 

James F., 241 
Hicks estate, 351 
Hicks Spring, 583 
Higginson, Thomas W., 633 
High Rock, 59, 84, 136-138, 369, 627, 

629 
High Rock Lodge, I. O. of G. T., 604 
High Rock Street, 79, 84, 232 
High School Alumni Association, 354 
High School Orchestra, 632 
High schools, 352-356, 373. New build- 
ing, 354-356, 376, 508 
High Street, 131 
Highland Avenue, 102, 103, 105, 285, 

420, 423 
Highland Avenue Bridge, 124, 125, 127, 

412 
Highland Hall, 264, 265, 302, 591, 592, 

603, 604, 631, 632 
Highland Mills, 408 



Highland Park, 425 

Highlandville, 262, 302, 304, 355, 356, 
359, 360, 376, 402, 404, 424, 544, 
578, 580, 592,_ 593,597, 612, 631, 
673. Methodist Episcopal Church, 
see Churches. Name changed to 
Needham Heights, 402. Post-office, 
543. Schools, 356, 357, 359. 
See also Needham Heights 

Highlandville Cornet Band, 631 

Highlandville Road, lOl 

Highway districts, no 

Highway Surveyors, see Town Officers 

Highway taxes, 108, in, 523, 524 

Highways, appropriations, 107, 533, 
534. Cost of breaking out the 
roads, 108. Taxes worked out, 
108. Wages paid to laborers, 109. 
Plows purchased, no 

Hildreth, Henry O., 612 

Hill, Aaron, 570. Rev. Benjamin, 261. 
Edwin, 391, 392. Rev. Elias, 260. 
John, 174. Rev. John, 260. Rev. 
Nathan, 261. William, & Son, 391. 
Woodbury, 307 

Hillside Avenue, 100, 102, 103, 105 

Hillside Farm, 400, 625 

Flillside Lodge, I. O. or G. T., 604 

Hinge-factory, 139, 393-396 

Hinckley, Francis, 232 

Hinds, Rev. Orlando, 261 

Hines, Charles A., 322, 323, 397, 448 

Hingham, 579. Derby Academy, 370 

"Hiram Allen," engine, 421 

"History of Norfolk County," 370 

Hitchcock, Henry, 421. Rev. Roswell 
D., 275 

Hodge, John M., 584 

Hodges, — ,431. Esther, 263 

Hofses, Angeline E., 364 

Hogreaves, see Town Officers 

Hogs and hogreaves, 636, 637 

Holbrook, Colonel, 446. John, dj 

Holden, 17 

Holyoke.? — HoUihock, Rev. Mr., 234 

Holman, Mr., 423. Louis A., 186, 609 

Holman Land, 423 

Holmes, Charles P., 295 

Holten, Samuel, 455 

Holy Trinity Mission, see Churches 

Home Lodge, I. O. 0. F., 591 

Home Park, 40, 48, 423, 425 

Homer, negro, 19S 

Honorable Artillery Company of Lon- 
don, 441 



714 



INDEX 



Hoogs, Francis, 387. George W., 307, 
540, 578, 589, 689. William, 386, 

387 
Hoogs paper-mill, 386, 387 
Hoogs Snuff Mill, 124 
Hoog's Tavern, 446, 540 
Hook and ladder company, 580 
Hooker, George, 383. Henry, 55. 

Mary, 55. Sarah, 561. Zibeon, 

338, 561 
Hopkinton, 334 
Horn breaker, 19 
Horr, Luther, 277 
Horrocks, Frederick H., 271 
Horse Neck, 20 
Horse Plain, 48 
Horse sheds, 205 
Horse thieves. Society for apprehending, 

608, 609 
Horses, number at different periods, 

531,535. Value, 531, 532 
Horton, Mr., 332. Hannah, 332 
Hose, 577-580 

Hose-carriages, 576, 579, 580 
Hose-companies, 580 
Hosemen, 577 

Hosiery made, 398, 399, 404-41 1 
Hospitals, 562, 563 
Hotchkiss, H. I., 307 
Hotel Wellesley, 139, 415, 583 
Houdin, Captain, 469 
Houghton, Elijah, 455 
Houses, number at different periods, 

237, 53°. S3I, 535 
Houses 

Adams, 543 

Alden, 13. Silas, 12, 338. William, 

Jr., 338 

Ambler, 391 

Avery, 24 

Ay res, 15 

Bacon, Henry, 15. John, 15, 91, 453. 
Jonathan, 63. Stephen, 15. Tim- 
othy, 26 

Barr, 347 

Beless, 403 

Bodge, 49 

Bogle, 259, 260 

Broad, 17 

Brown, 17, 18 

Burrill, 262. Bill, 542 

Chamberlain, 17, 22 

Coller, 30, 259 

Croswell, 298 

Cutter, 539 



Houses — Continued 

Daggett, 334 _ 

Daniel, Jeremiah, 19. Joseph, 338 

Davenport, 338 

Dewing, 21, 22 

Drury, 23 

Eaton, 24 

Edes, 24 

Estey, 338 

Farris, 23, 149 

Felton, 540 

Fisher, Ebenezer, 25, 323. Jeremiah, 
333. John, 25, 249. Liddy, 26 
333. Samuel, 26 

Fiske, 27 

Flagg, 343 

Fuller, Amos, 29, 240. Eleazer, 29. 
Ezra, 30. Ezra, Jr., 539. Jona- 
than, 30. Jonathan, Jr., 30. 
Moses, 29. Robert, 28, 29, 216, 
233. Solomon, 335. Thomas, 28 

Fuller-Mills, 28, 47, 85, 196 

Fuller-Ritchie-Newell, 234 

Garfield, 10 

Gay-Reynolds, 122 

Goodenow, Isaac, 32, 33. John, 23, 

32 
Greenwood, 29 
Hagar, 633 
Hall, 33 
Harrington, 259 
Hawes, Jeremiah, 34. Joseph, 34, 

35 
Hazelton, 573 
Heidtke, 49 
Hooker, 338 
Hunnewell, 634 
Ingols, 41 
Jackson, 338, 527 
Johnson, 65 
Kingsbery — Kingsbury, Daniel, 4I. 

Eliphalet, 334. Jesse, 37. Jonathan, 

40. Thomas, 633. Timothy, 40, 

41. William A., 576 
La Croix, 593 
Longfellow, 65 

Lyon, 35, 42, 393. Amos, 43. 
Edward, 42. Elisha, 517. William, 

42 

Mackintosh — M'^Intosh, 238. Eben- 
ezer, 573. Nathan, 576. William, 43 

Marsh, loi 

Maynard, 240, 241 

Metcalf, 44, 309 

Mills, Abijah, 47. Amos, 47. Ben- 



INDEX 



715 



Houses — Continued 

jamin, 45, 358. Ellsha, 335. 
. Joseph, 49. Oliver, 28, 47. Rufus, 

541. William, 45, 46 
Morse, 27. Elijah, 338. Samuel, 52 
Munson, loi 
Newcomb, 273 
Newell, 52, 563 
Noyes, 573, 575 
Ockinton, 518 
Orr, 240 
Paine, 54 

Parker, 55. Enoch, 338 
Pierce, 17, 452. Jacob, 22 
Rice, 57 
Ritchie, 29, 576 
Rollins, 206 
Smith, 60. Aaron, Jr., 335, 338, 540. 

Amraphel, 576. Luther, 61. 

Newell, 633 
Stanwood, 543 
Stedman, 338 
Tolman-Gay, 310 
Townsend, 231, 235-238, 240, 241, 

625. The " school room," 236 
Turner, 403 
Underwood, 23 
Wales, 52 
Ware, 65, 83, 403 
West, 451 
Whitaker, 40 
Whitney, Israel, 542. Marianna, 

541 
Wight, 23 
Wilson, 338 
Howard, Abner, 474. Ada L., 374. 

Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, 589. 

William T., 630 
Howard family, 590 
Howe, A. K., 122. Edward F., 419, 

632. George, 3d Viscount, 434. 

Gen. William, 434, 435 
Howell, Captain, 474 
Howison, George H., 298 
Howland, George, 249, 250, 252, 256, 

283, 654. George H., 252. John, 

250 
Hoyt, Rev. Benjamin R., 261, 262 
Hubbard, Rev. James M., 275, 280. 

Osman H., 571. Rev. Reuben, 

261 
Hubbard's Well, 140 
Hudnut, Frank P., 571. Paul R., 304 
Hudson, Samuel, 376, 377, 379, 408. 

Portrait, 377, 408 



Hull, Rev. Stephen, 260 

Hull, 464 

Humberstone, William, 270, 596 

Humphrey, Horace, 389. William, 430, 

431.433,434 

Hundreds, The, 47, 54 

Hundreds Dividend, 21, 691 

Hunnewell, Horatio H., 140, 300, 356, 
390, 391, 634, 635. Samuel, loi. 
Walter, 163 

Hunnewell estate, 14, 153, 634, 635 

Hunnewell family, 569 

Hunnewell Road or Street, loi, 204 

Hunnewell School, 356 

Hunt, David, 574. Elizabeth, 370, 574. 
Ephraim, 75. Jane D., 617. Lucy 
D., 363. Nancy, 574. Rev. Sam- 
uel, 272, 273. Ward N., 569, 575 

Hunter, Joseph, 469, 470 

Hunter & Neal, 278 

Huntting — Hunting, Abigail, 35 
Amos, 480. Asa, 477. Converse 
464. Daniel, 97, 211, 435. Dan- 
iel, Jr., 458, 462, 463. Ebenezer 
36, 90, 308, 325, 458, 460, 466, 
467. Hannah, 46. Israel, 277 
435) 458, 460, 462, 466, 467. John 
35, 56, 61. Jonathan, 36, 37, 88 
458, 460, 466, 467, 477, 536, 568 
649, 678. Luther, 307. Moses 
458, 460, 463, 475, 480. Re- 
becca, 225. Samuel, 10, 35, 46 
89, 211, 435. Stephen, 35, 56, 59^ 
71, 211, 223, 435, 454, 481, 684 
Timothy, 458, 462, 467, 483. Wil- 
liam, 458, 464 

Huntting — Hunting family, 35, 36 

Hurd, Daniel, 277, 278, 554. Stephen, 
589. Willard, 577. William, 383. 
William E., 12, 39 

Hurd family, 12 

Hurd's Corner, 13 

Hutchins, E. C, 414 

Hutchinson, Gov. Thomas, 149 

Huth, John, 505 

Hyde, Nathan, 307 

Hyde Park, 255 

Hydrant service, 581 

T CE-PONDS, 395 
A Ide, Rev. Jacob, 272, 273 
Illinois Volunteers, 509, 510 
Imperial and Colonial Veterans, 441 
Improved Order of Redmen, 592 
Improvement societies, 596, 597 



7i6 INDEX 

Independence, fire-engine, 579 
Independent Engine Company, 580 
Independent Order of Good Templars, 

604 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 591 
India, 241, 442, 510 
Indian dam, 122 
Indians, 11, 142, 143, 145, 390, 453> SS'^, 

SS9 
Industries, 380-426. Upper Falls, 380- 

382. Lower Falls, 382-389. First 
Mill, 382. Second Mill, 382-384. 
Machine-shop, 384. Third Paper- 
mill, 384-386. Mills at Lower Dam, 
386-388. Paint-factory, 388, 389. 
Longfellow's Mill, 389, 390. 
Charles River Village, mill, 391, 
392. Needham Heights, 402-404. 
Statistics, 409-412. Beams placed 
in the bed of the Charles River, 
412. Needham Business Associa- 
tion and Board of Trade, 412, 413. 
Railroads, 413-416. Charles River 
Railroad, 413, 414. Street Rail- 
ways, 416-420. Newton and Bos- 
ton Street Railway Co., 417, 418. 
Natick and Cochituate Street Rail- 
way Co., 418. Land enterprises, 
423-425. Banks, 425, 426 

Infantr)', names of Needham soldiers in 
the Civil War arranged alpha- 
betically, not indexed, 494-502 

Insane, 547 

Inspector of Cattle and Provisions, see 
Town Officers 

Intermediate school, 358 

Ipswich, England, 77 

Ireland, Abraham, 436 

Ireland gravel pit, 587 

Irving, Washington, 628 

Island of Panay, Visayas, Philippines, 
510 

Italian gardens, Hunnewell estate, 634 

JACK, negro, 565 
Jack, Deborah, 558, 559 
Jackets made, 398, 399, 403, 405, 406 
Jackson, Aaron, 464. Pres. Andrew, 
170, 575. Edward, 336, 386, 388. 
Ephraim, 17, 90, 95, 1 10, 114, 
123, 132, 135, 196, 235, 338, 382, 

383, 385, 388, 431, 433, 434, 464, 
527, 582, 637, 651. Ephraim, Jr., 
382. Rev. Joseph, 237 

Jacobs, Colonel, 476 



Jahaw, Rebecca, 566 

Japan, 42 

Jeffersonians, 169, 170 

Jenkins, E. C, 577 

Jenness, Carrie L., 298 

Jennings, Ephraim, 143, 151, 437. 
Ethel, 307, 662, 665. George, 319, 
525, 663. Jonathan, 469, 470. 
Levi, 307. Otis, 390, 444, 589. 
Stephen, 143 

Jennings Pond, 138 

Jennison — Jeneson — Jenison, Isaac, 259. 
Israel, 469. Lot, 259. Peter, 211, 
458, 459, 463. Robert, 15, 23, 33, 
34, 47, 52, 57, 143, 437, 568 

Jewett, William B., 357 

Johnson, Mr., 241. Enoch, 460, 480. 
George W., 589. Richard M.. 
448. William, 505 

Johnson & Richmond, 102 

Johnston, Rev. Benjamin J., 268, 269. 
Ernest, 268 

Jones, Mr., 384. Adam, 96. Charles 
W., 270, 271. Cyrus W., 176, 290. 
375, 603, 630. George E., 379 
H. W., 414. John, II, 16, 47, 78 
91, 135, 149, 307, 334, 369, 559 
John W., 509. Lewis, 489, 617 
Samuel, 378, 379. William, 126 
205, 319. William G., 100, 205 
393, 672 

Jones & Rice, 383 

Jordan, Mr., 384 

Joy, Benjamin, 555, 640 

Jube, a negro, 198 

Junior Christian Endeavor Society, 290 

Junior Society of Christian Endeavor, 
267 

Junior Young People's Society of 
Christian Endeavor, 253 

Jur>'men, 689 

Justices of the Peace, 647, 648 

T^'EELER Manufacturing Company, 

■'^ 399 

Kelghly, Thomas, 53 

Keith — Keaith, C. E., & Co., 629. 
Charles E., 283, 284, 286, 290, 295, 
401, 423, 424, 608, 610, 611, 628, 
629. Harold, 279. John, 432. 
Royal, 629 

Keith Brothers & Co., 401 

Keith's Block, 401 

Kelley — Kelly, Lucy, 616. William, 
470, see Kitley, William 



INDEX 



717 



Kench, Thomas, 475 

Kendall, "Ned," 631 

Kendrick — Cancrack — Kenderick — 
Kendreck — Kenrick — Kindreck — 
Kindrick, Caleb, 73, 82, 115, 116, 
234. Mrs. Caleb, 116. Elijah, 
431, 433. 434, 437. John, 187. 
Thomas, 437 

Kendrick Street, 116 

Kendrick's — Kendreck's — Kenrick's — 
Kindreck's — Kindrick's Bridge, 24, 

39, 45, 47,73, 92, 93, "4-117, 121, 
127, 422 

Kennedy, Rev. Daniel R., Jr., 288, 293. 
George L., 270, 596 

Key West, Fla., 510 

Keyes, Francis, 577. Isaac, 389, 390 

Kibby, Epaphras, 260 

Kiernan, John, 119. Michael, 119 

Kilburn, Rev. David, 261 

Killingly, Conn., 478 

Kilmer, Mrs. Caroline, 49 

Kilton, Samuel, 211, 457, 459, 460, 
462 

Kimball, Benjamin G., 352, 373, 490, 
667. Betsey G., 618. Rev. Daniel, 
26, 43, 45, 131, 137, 161, 226, 
309, 316, 317, 330, 349, 350, 352, 
360, 366, 370, 574, 593, 601, 602, 
607, 608, 646, 648, 666. Estes, 
444, 445. Henry C, 370, 373. 
Moses, 602. Richard, 96 

Kimball estate, 599 

Kimball School-house, 355, 358, 360, 361. 
Teachers, 364 

Kine Pock, 563 

King, John, 569. Primas, 566. Zeba- 
lon, 474 ^ 

King Iron Bridge Company, 119 

King Philip Lodge, Knights of Honor, 

591 
King Philip's War, 20, 25, 390, 437 
Kingsbery — Kingsbary — Kingsberry 
— Kingsbury, Albert D., 294, 416, 
508, 571. Amasa, 30. Asa, 36, 
100, 131, 160, 247, 313, 343, 346, 
437, 488, 589, 609, 646, 657, 662. 
Asa, 2d, 307. Caleb, 38, 87-90, 94, 
118, 165, 196, 211, 23s, 318, 436, 
454, 455, 472, 481, 527, 554, 650, 
658, 660, 683. Caroline L., 351. 
Charlotte, 363, 668. Charlotte M., 
363. Clara M., 49. Daniel, 41, 
396, 541, 589, 657. David, 464, 
487. Dexter, 525, 554, 601, 640, 



654, 664. Eleazer, 12, 37, 39, 41, 42, 
47, 57, 61, 71, 1^, 78, 81, 83, 89, 114- 
116, 118, 147, 148, 165-167, 181, 
194, 196, 211, 215, 217, 223, 225, 
227, 229, 230, 233, 235, 248, 316, 
333, 369, 430, 432, 453, 454, 47i, 
472, 479, 513-516, 520-522, 526, 
530, 549, 550, 561, 637, 645, 649, 

650, 658, 660, 662, 677, 688. Elea- 
zer, Jr., 186, 464, 520, 557, 660. 
Elijah, 38. Eliphalet, 37, 123, 211, 
232, 334. Eliphalet, Jr., 458, 460, 
462, 463. Eliza A., 298. Emily, 
551. Emily H., 244. Enoch, 116, 
203, 441, 457, 459, 462, 467, 483, 
484. Esther, 197. Frederick S., 
36, 244. George, 54, 583. George 
L., 36, 189, 310, 325, 449, 544, 664. 
George O., iii, 599. Hannah, 41, 
Mrs. Hannah, 40. Harriet E., 610. 
Henry A., 581. Hezekiah, 41, 198. 
Isaac M., 36, 664. Isabella S., 364. 
James, 29, 38-40, 66, 71, 79, 81, 82, 
85, 86, 114, 198, 218, 314, 649. 
Jemima, 37. Widow Jemima, 616. 
Jeremiah, 313, 344, 602, 603. 
Jesse, 37, 38, 88, 174, 211, 423, 435, 
454. John, 40, 92, lOl, III, 136, 
198, 207, 230, 431, 552, 554, 589, 

651. Jonathan,38,40, 114, 116, 126, 
131, 133, 154, 158, 165, 339, 341, 
428, 438, 440, 456, 458, 461, 467, 
645,648,652,657,659,683. Jona- 
than, Jr., 130, 335, 337, 342, 481, 

486, 562, 661. Joseph, 36, 458, 
460,481,487. Joseph, Jr., 94, 335, 
458, 462, 474, 661, 665. Josiah, 14, 
36-40, 57, 63, 71, 79, 80, 82-85, 142, 
183, 195, 199, 219-221, 244, 330, 
332, 512, 514, 518, 641, 645, 646, 
649, 658. Lauren, 40, 162, 301, 
320, 351, 353, 449, 646, 654, 663. 
Lemuel, 120, 159, 350, 393, 441, 

487. Lemuel, 2d, 310. Mrs. Lem- 
uel, 2d, 310. Leonard, 215, 589. 
LucindaO., 284. Luther, 323, 423, 
633. Luther Allen, 320, 353, 667. 
Lyman E., 310. Martha F., 364. 
Mehetable, 40. Moses, 41, 462, 472. 
Moses, Jr., 362, Nathan, 486. 
Nathaniel, 39, 41, 455, 463. Phine- 
has, 464, 465, 477. Ruth, 225. 
Samuel, 233. Sarah, 224. Widow 
Sarah, 616. Sarah E. M., 453. 
Susanna, 225. Theodore, 37, 38. 



7i8 



INDEX 



Thomas, 39, 49, 98, 100, 125, 188, 
226, 316, 32s, 346, 349, 350, 633, 
646, 648, 653, 659, 662, 665. Tim- 
othy, 40, 41, 59, 62, 66, 71, 80, 82, 84, 
85, 118, 141, 183, 184, 194, 198-200, 
217, 220, 221, 223-226, 229, 230, 
248, 251, 308, 333, 437, 441, 442, 
472, 512, 514, 515, 526, 64s, 648, 
657, 658, 660, 688. Timothy, Jr., 
86, 548, 660. William, 438, 458, 
464. William A., 40, 97, 576, 589, 
601, 653, 663, 665. William D., 

99 

Kingsbery — Kingsbury, family, 36-41, 

175, 176, 334 
Kingsbury Block, 302, 304, 401, 508, 

571,590-592 
Kingsbury Land, 423 
Kingsbury-Rollins place, 395 
Kingsbury — Stedman — Ingols place, 

13s 
Kingsbury — Whitaker — Morgan place, 

104, 105 
Kingsbury Street, 423 
Kinston, N. C, 500 
Kirk, Rev. Edward N., 284 
Kitley — Kittley, John, 90, 43 1 , 43 2, 45 7, 

460, 466, 467, 470. William, 463, 

469, 470 
Kittredge — Kitteridge, Jenny, 566. 

John B., 570. Susan, 566 
Knapp — Knap, George L., 493. Jesse, 

430,431 
Knapsacks, 443, 445 
Knights of Honor, 591 
Knit-goods made, 402-404, 410, 411 
Know Nothing Party, 171 
Knowlton — Knolton, Daniel, 479. 

Helen M., 376 
Knowlton & Allen's orchestra, 626 
Kuhn, George H., 381 

LACONIA, N. H., 40s 
La Croix, Edward, 593, 668. 
Eliza W., 593, 594 

Ladd, Levi, 659 

Ladies' Aid Society, Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, 267. First Church, 
306, S93_ 

Ladies' Charitable Society, 593 

Ladies' Circle, Baptist Church, 253. 
Methodist Church, 267 

Ladies' Friendly Society, 285, 287 

Ladies' Lot, 295 

Ladies' Sewing Circle, 299, 301 



Lafayette, Marquis, 485 

Lake, Flavius J., 274, 278, 279, 281, 282, 

358 
Lake Champlain, 429 
Lake Cochituate, 126, 340, 629 
Lake Crossing Bridge, 102 
Lake George, 430, 432 
Lake View, 597 
Lake Waban, 138, 558 
Lamb, Jane D., 617 
Lambstown — Lamstown, 37, 38 
Lamson, Martha, 33. Rev. William, 

251 

Lancaster, 433 

Land Bank Bills, 107, 513 

Land enterprises, 423-425 

Lane, Caroline M., 298. Harriet P., 
298, 300 

Langdale, Joseph, 408 

Larabee, Rev. Benjamin, 285 

Lathom, Frederick, 409 

Laughton, Sarah E., 543 

Lawsuits, 189, 190 

Lawrence, Edwin V., 186. Bishop 
William, 303, 304 

Lawton, Samuel, 307 

Lay preachers, 230 

Leach, Elbridge G., 320, 584 

Leather-board made, 391 

Leblanc — Liblanc — Lublanc, Ann, 557. 
Francis, 557. Margreet, 557. Peter, 
557. Sibbel, 557. _ Simeon, 557 

Leblanc — Lebland family, 555, 557 

Ledothe, Benjamin, 436 

Lee, Rev. Jesse, 258, 259. His "Short 
History of the Methodists in the 
United States of America," 259. 
John, 265, 405. Mark, 264-266, 
270, 405, 544, 578, 655, 664. Por- 
trait, 405 

Lee, Carter & Co., 405 

Lee Croft, Yorkshire, England, 38 

"Leg, The," see Needham Leg 

Leicester, England, 400, 406, 510 

Leland, S., 278 

Lentell, Benjamin, 29 

Leonard, George, 151, 211. Joseph 
W., 584 

Lescombe, Thomas, 211 

Lesdernier, Gustavus F. de, 258 

Lester, Elizabeth A., 364. James B., 302, 
379, 668. John W., 304. Stephen, 
599. Thomas, 599. Thomas G., 

377 
Leverett, William, 480 



INDEX 



719 



Levering, William B., 13 
Lewis, Captain, 440. James, 469. 
Jonas, 460. Samuel, his "Topo- 
graphical Dictionary," "]"] 
Levey, John, 469, 470 
Lexington, 334,485, 617 
Lexington Alarm, 186, 451-453, 461, 

486 
Lexington Alarm Lists, 454-458 
Libby Bridge, 10 1 
Libby Prison, 501 
Libby Road, lOl 
Liberty Party, 171 
Librarians, 375, 376, 379 
Library, see Needham Free Public 

Library 
Library Building Fund, 634 
Library Building Fund Association, 376 
Lieutenant-Colonels, militia, 440 
Lieutenants, militia, 441. Norfolk 

Rifle Rangers, 449 
Lightning Calculator, 341 
Lincoln, Abraham, 492, 628. Ben- 
jamin, 146. Levi, 486 
Linden Street school-house, 334 
Lindsay, Rev. John, 261 
Linehan, Charles, 119 
"Lion," engine, 421 
Liquor Agent, see Town Officers 
Liquor Law, 601 
Lisbon, Portugal, 5 1 
Litchfield, Lemont D., 361 
LIttlefield, Ebenezer, 331. Jemima, 

331. Lydia, 331 
Livermore, Elisha, 298, 541. L. J., 299. 
Oliver C, 298, 300, 541. Samuel, 
129 
Livermore family, 330 
Livingston, David H., in, 664 
Local names, 135-140 
Locke, Henry S., 291, 355, 579. Rev. 

Isaac, 261 
Lock-up, 552 
Logan, Walter, 530 
Loker, Ephraim, 100. John, 34, 143. 

Mehitable, 152. Nancy, 263 
Loker family, 34, 390, 637, 638 
London, England, 293, 683 
Long Island, Boston, 484 
Longfellow, Fannie E., 357. Nathan, 

352, 390, 666 
Longfellow's Mill, 389, 390 
Longfellow's Pond, 65, 83, 139, 140, 329, 

390, 568 
Longley, Nathaniel, 93 



Lord, Charles A., 421. Friend D., 572, 

573. Rev. William R., 244, 245 
Loring, Joseph G., 387 
Loring & Co., 387 
Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, 

403 
Louisville, Ky., 509 
Lovering, Rev. Mr., 219 
Lovers of the Holy Cross, 297 
Lovewell Road, 100, 131 
Low, Franklin, 268, 664. Samuel G., 

301 
Low's Block, 301, 595 
Lowell, 423, 496 
Lowell Institute, 574 
Lower Dam, Lower Falls, 386 
Lower Falls, 15, 21, 44, 46, 47, 55-57, 

78, 86, 92, 93, 96, 99, 100, 102, 123, 

124, 126, 130, 178, 445, 520, 538, 

540, 558, 576-578, 623, 632, 689. 

Fire-company, 633. Industries, 

382-389 
Lower Falls school district, 339, 340, 

343, 358, 667 
Lower Falls school-house, 335, 338, 340, 

348 

Lowry, Rev. Samuel E., 285 

Loyal Temperance Legion, 267, 605 

Loyalists, 187, 232 

Lumber yards, 634 

Lusher, Eleazer, 136 

Lyceum, 45, 330, 606, 607 

Lyman, Edith, 244 

Lynes, Alexander, 265, 270, 406, 407 

Lynn, 220, 224 

Lynnborough, 6l8 

Lyon, Mr., 589. Abigail, 42. Amos, 
43, 307, 382, 383. Amos, & Co., 
382. Baza, 433. Benjamin, 13. 
Daniel, 136. David, 136. Ebene- 
zer, 42. Ebenezer, Jr., 42, 198. 
Edward, 42. Elisha, 98, 125, 159, 
161, 171, 182, 188, 215, 226, 284, 
345, 346, 349, 440, 485, 488, 4S9, 
517, 523, 55°, 554, 576, 578, 589, 
645, 648, 659, 663, 665, 666. Elisha 
H., 449. Hannah, 42, 136. Israel 
W., 42, 205. Jacob, 42. Jerusha, 
42. Jesse, 391. John W., 444, 449. 
Joseph, 13, 431. Joseph W., 440. 
Joshua B., 393, 440. Josiah, 42, 
135, 322, 430-432, 454, 459, 463, 
469, 470, 472, 474, 536. Josiah, 
Jr., 456, 469. Josiah B., 601. 
Lemuel, 42, 139, 307, 393, 397, 



720 



INDEX 



399, 589. Lemuel, 2d, 347. Lucy 
S., 319. Mary, 42, 78, 135, 136. 
Nathaniel, 42. Pelatiah, 135. 
Peter, 42, 97, 159, 160, 385, 386, 
44S, 485, 589, 632, 648, 653, 662. 
Rachel, 136. Sarah (Mrs. Josiah), 

42, 472. Seth, 42, 160. Thomas, 
135. William, 35, 42, 123, 188 

Lyon & Dix, 632 

Lyon & Hersey, 397 

Lyon dam, 397, 399 

Lyon family, 42, 43 

Lyon mill, 397, 399 

Lyon's Bridge, 118, 119, 130, 393 

Lyon's Pond, 397 

McBRIDE, Mr, 541 
McCabe, J. W., 302 

McCracken Road, 100 

McDonald, Margaret F., 378 

McDowell, Ella R., 376 

Mace, Alonzo M., 258 

M<=Farland, Mr., 539, 540. John, 589 

Machine-shop, 382, 384 

Mclntire — McEntire — Macentire — 
Mackintier — Mackintire — Mack- 
intyre, Hannah, 211. John, 43, 
71, 470. Joseph, 88, 558. Sam- 
uel, 88, 89, 91, 186, 196, 211, 
436, 458, 462, 521, 650. Timothy, 
462 

Mclntire family, 43, 44 

Mackintosh — Mackentosh — Mackin- 
tash — M^Intash — Mcintosh, 
Charles, iii, 640, 665. Curtis, 28, 

43, 104, 161, 201, 310, 442, 640, 

653, 664. Mrs. Curtis, 625. 
Ebenezer, 97, 98, no, 116, 
120, 134, 159, 160, 212, 309, 319, 
344, 345. 428, 440, 443, 487, 539, 
547, 550, 573, 589, 640, 652, 662, 
665. Airs. Ebenezer, 319. Eben- 
ezer VV., 607, 640. Mrs. Ebenezer 
W., 611. Francis, 539. Francis 
A., 545. George C, 394, 395, 
613. Gideon, 116, 481. Henry 
M., 206, 394-397, 399, 412, 487- 
James, 79, 105, 185, 206, 297, 
318, 319, 321, 416, 584, 585, 646, 

654, 656. John, 456, 459, 461, 527. 
Mary, 310. Michael, 206, 307, 
393-396, 654. Nathan, 393, 524, 
539,576- Dr. Nathan, 43. Royal, 
96, 116, 161, 316, 324, 462, 463, 
475, 476, 545, 589, 632, 653, 662, 



663. Samuel, 309, 444, 446. Syl- 
vester, 299, 353. William, 43, 90, 
91, 118, 134, 13s, 164, 166-168, 
180, 181, 184, 187, 201, 203, 208, 
212, 214, 225, 238, 239, 313, 319, 
428-430, 440, 460-462, 467, 470, 

472, 473, 475-477, 479, 482, 484, 
516, 522, 530, 539, 549, 615, 623, 
627, 633,637,645, 651, 687. Mrs. 
William, 319. William H. H., 655, 
664 

Mackintosh — M<^Intosh family, 43, 44, 
312,542. Farm, 140, 633. Ledge, 
loi. Tavern, 539. Tomb, 319 

M^Kay, Mr., 191 

M'Kee, Rev. Joel, 261 

M'^Kenzie, Rev. Alexander, 279. D. 
Banks, 604. Norman, 674 

M<=Leod, Hugh, 275 

M<=Loughlin, Patrick, 505 

M^Math, Colin, 511 

M^Namara, Patrick, 297 

Macomb, Illinois, 280 

Macon, Ga., 504 

M^Owens, William H., 297 

Magus — Maugus — Magos — Mogast 
— Maguse, John, 10, 11, 558 

Mails, 542 

Majors, militia, 440 

Maiden, 374, 510 

Maney Brothers, 103 

Manilla, Philippines, 511 

Manilla paper made, 391, 409 

Manlius, N. Y., 618 

Mann — Man, Abijah, 434. Daniel, 289. 
H. & W. H., 602. Henry, 348. 
Herman, 188, 624. Herman, & 
Co., 187. Hoi lis, 440, 443. 
Horace, 11, 15, 21, 23, 27,33, 34, 
52, 54, 58, 62, 565. James, 314, 
432, 437. Joel R., 630. Mary 
W., 289. Moses, 14, 309, 336, 
440, 450, 461, 462, 473, 476, 482, 
483, 537, 538, 589, 603, 630-632, 
652. Nathaniel, 14, 87, 434, 650. 
William W., 309,554,630,631 

Mann-Blackman farm, 13 

Mann family, 630 

Mannilaus, N. Y., 618 

Mannix, Michael, 297 

Mansfield, Elizabeth, 263. Epes, 133, 
260, 323. Henry T., 571. John, 
259, 263, 264, 349, 578, 665, 689. 
Prudence, 263. Robert, 102, 133, 
263,518,688. Sarah, 616 



INDEX 



721 



Mansfield, 237 

Manufactures, statistics of, at differ- 
ent periods, 1865-1905, 409-412 

Maple Street, 102 

Maps, 129-132, 574. 1771, 25, 79, 118, 
123 

Maquoit, Me., 619 

Marble, Rev. Elias, 261 

Marchant, Frederick, 190, 284, 290, 634 

Marcy, Moses, 145. Rev. Thomas, 263 

Marean, John, 114 

Marietta, Ohio, 43 

Mark tree, 97 

Mark or Marked Tree Road, 99, 102 

Markers put on graves of soldiers of the 
Revolution, 485 

Marks, Richard, 359 

Marlborough, 218 

Marriages, 188, 228, 324, 327 

Marsh, Rev. Elam E., 244, 270 

Marshall, Captain, 469. Colonel, 469 

"Marshall Rice," engine, 421 

Marston's restaurants, 400 

Martha's Vineyard, 258 

Martin, Benjamin F., 385. J. B., 577 

Marvin, Rev. Elihu P., 285, 668 

Maryfield, Abigail, 48. George, 48 

Maryland, 138 

Mason, Barachias or Barachiah, 129, 

133 

Masonic Hall, Great Plain, 302, 305. 
Kingsbury Block, 591, 592 

Masons, 626. Grand Lodge, 192, 590, 
625. Grand Royal Arch Chapter, 
590. Meridian Lodge, 541, 589. 
Norfolk Lodge, 589, 590 

Massachusetts, Attorney General, 193. 
Auditor-General, 633, 683. Com- 
monwealth, 105, 127, 412, 491, 
588, 614. Constitution, 168-171, 
175, 176. Council, 68, 72, 73, 141, 
143-146, 148, 149, 151, 166, 174, 
209-212, 444, 4SS, 457, 458, 460, 
461, 476, 484, 645. Court of 
Quarter Sessions, 91, 107, 120, 189, 
333> 561 • General Court, 68, 72- 
74, 76, 99> 113, 118, 127, 130, 131, 
133. 134, 142-148, 151-155, 157- 
162, 164, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 
174, 'i^ll', 182-184, 186, 194, 208- 
210, 212-214, 247, 311-313, 326, 
329, 332, 368, 369, 395, 413-415, 
428, '434, 468, 471, 473, 491, 514- 
517, 521, 528-530, 538, 549, 555, 
557, 559, 566, 582, 584, 613, 633, 



636, 643-647, 684, 687. Manual, 

72. Governor, 68, 721, 279, 444. 
House of Representatives, 68, 72, 

73, 141-146, 148, 149, 151, 166, 
174, 209-212, 215, 559. Secretary 
of State, 133, 156, 157. Senate, 
154, 158, 160, 161, 215. State 
Archives, 68, 72, 73, 75, 129, 14I- 
146, 148, 149, 173-175, 209, 210, 
212, 213, 430-434, 436, 437, 4SS, 
457-460, 462-466, 470, 471, 473- 

479, 483, 484, 522, 530, 531, 557, 
559. Superior Court, 186, 193, 
689. Supreme Judicial Court, 157, 

189, 355, 52s _ 
Massachusetts Baptist Anniversaries, 

250 
Massachusetts Historical Society, 239 
Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital, 

572 
Massachusetts Medical Society, 575 
Massachusetts Society for promoting 

Christian Knowledge, 207 
"Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors," 

476 
Massachusetts United States Volun- 
teers, 509-511 
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, 509 
Mather, Rev. Dr., 220. Rev. Cotton, 
218. Elizabeth, 60. Rev. In- 
crease, 218 
Mathey, Armand J., 625, 626, 674 
Matlock, Derbyshire, England, 405 
Maugus, John, see Magus, John 
Maugus Avenue, Wellesley Hills, II 
Maugus Club, Wellesley Hills, 11 
Maugus Hall, 298, 353, 492 
Maugus Hall Association, 353, 492 
Maugus — Maugost — Aiaugriat — 
Magers Hill, 11, 17-19, 21, 32, 37, 
38, 63, 64, 79 
Maugus Press, Wellesley Hills, 11 
May, Eleazer, 40. Harriet, 668. 
Henry F., 191. Mrs. Henry F., 
49. John J., 235 
May & Williams, 202 
May Building, 302, 376, 402, 509 
May Festival, 306 
Mayhew, Mr., 226 

Maynard, Joseph W., 277. Rev. Ly- 
man, 240, 241, 317, 396. Anecdote 
of, 241. Priscilla B., 277 
Mayo, Charles, 666. Thomas, 464 
Mead, Mason & Co., 192 
Means, Rev. John O., 276 



722 



INDEX 



Measure, Charles, 664 

Measurers of Wood and Bark, see 

Town Officers 
Mechanics Engine Company, Newton, 

577, 579 
Medfield, 19, 117, 217, 219, 224, 232, 

235, 249, 283, 334, 442, 570, 647 
Medfield and Needham Street Railway 

Company, 420 
Medford, 570 

Medical inspector of the schools, 571 
Medway, 19, 380, 446, 570 
Meeting-house Hill, 100, loi 
Meeting-house tax, 523 
Meeting-houses, East, 94, 96, 158, 159, 
17s, 180, 215, 344, 438, 489. First 
Church, First, 75, 76, 81-84, 86, 
88, 94. 95, 194-198, 313, 625, 671. 
Built, 194, 195. Repaired, 196. 
Burned, 197. Seated, 198-200. 
Second, 201-204, 240, 431, 623. 
Third, 204-207. Methodist, 54, 
100, 258-260, 262, 263. Raised, 
259. Orthodox Congregational, 19, 
277, 278. West, 17, 93, 180, 215, 
245, 246, 438, 489, 601 
Melrose, 327 

Memorial Day, 508, 510 
Memorial windows, First Baptist 
Church, 258. Evangelical Con- 
gregational Church, 289. Saint 
Joseph's Church, 297 
Menotomy, 452 
Men's Chorus, 268 
Men's Club, 267 
Men's Glee Club, 268 
Men's League, 598. Baptist Church, 
253, 254. Methodist Church, 267 
Mercer, Alfred J., 361, 656 
"Mercury," engine, 421 
Meridian Lodge, Masons, 541, 589 
Merino made, 398 
Merino mittens made, 406 
Merrill, Charles, 277 
Merrimac, 572 
Messenger, Rev. Mr., 220 
Messenger Brothers, 397 
Metcalf — Madcalf — Metcalfe, 
Eleazer, 65. Esther, 44. Hannah, 
64. Jonathan, 466. Lydia, 223, 
224, 615. Michael, 44, 47, 83, 91, 
117, 118, 133, 147, 148, 157, 167, 
168, 181, 196, 201, 202, 231, 308, 
315, 336, 341, 427, 450, 467, 471, 
482, 516, S2I, 530, 651, 658, 661, 



688. Theron, 190. Thomas, 35, 
44, 55, 71, 79, 81-83, 86, 180, 186, 
195, 198, 216, 220, 221, 223, 227, 
229, 309, 314, 316, 436, 520, 555, 
649, 650, 657, 658, 683, 687 

Metcalf family, 44 

Metcalf farm, 44 

Methodist Episcopal Church, see 
Churches 

Methodist Episcopal Society, 263-265 

Methodist General Biblical Institute, 
270 

Methodist Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses 

Methodists in Needham, 258-267, 621 

Metropolitan Park Commission, 42, 540 

Metropolitan Park system, 587, 588 

Mica plant, 388 

Middle school district, see Centre, 
Brick, school district 

Middlesex and Norfolk Pomona Grange, 
609 

Middlesex County, 12, 170 

Middlesex South Conference, 273 

Middlesex Stone Brick Company, 389 

Miles, Clough R., 353, 669 

Milford, 262 

Military Affairs, 427-449. Town Am- 
munition and Powder-house, 427, 

428. Spanish War of 1740, 428, 

429. French and Indian War, 429- 
436. Militia, 436-443. Shays's 
Rebellion, 437, 438. Militia items 
from the Selectmen's orders, 442. 
Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 444-449 

Military Committee, see Town Officers 

Military Company of Exempts, 486-489 

Militia, 25, 436-443. Officers, 440, 441. 
Cavalry, 442. Powder and equip- 
ment, 443. Muster-rolls, 456-458, 
460-462 

Mill Bridge, 120, 121 

Mill Brook, 140 

Mill Pond, 64 

Millard, Noah, 458 

Miller — Millar, Mr., 539. Albert E., 
378, 424-426, 571, 582, 625, 646. 
Albert M., 564, 571. Hezekiah, 
474. James, 530. Solomon, 475, 
see Mills, Solomon. Vesta D., 571, 
605 

Millers, 64, 385, 397 

Millerville, 424 

Milliken, Robert, 505 

Millis, 647 



INDEX 



723 



Mills, Abigail C, 284, 285. Abijah, 47, 
454, 462. Adassah, 47. Amos, 47, 
211, 247, 453, 455. Anne, 54. 
Benjamin, 11, 44-48, 71, 74, 90, 
116, 182, 194, 19s, 217, 218, 221, 
463, 466, 474-477, 538, 549, 648, 
651, 671. Benjamin, Jr., 45, 46, 
216, 219, 221, 223, 328, 456, 458, 
462,466,467,649,658. Benjamin, 
3d, 462, 466, 467. Charlotte, 50. 
David, 47-49, 54, 57, 207, 435, 
457, 459, 477- David, Jr., 461. 
Davis C, loi, 524, 539, 578, 633, 
644, 653, 663. Davis K., 359. 
Dexter T., 397. Ebenezer, 48, 
82, 93. Edward (A.), 394, 542. 
Elisha, 203, 335, 451, 453, 456, 
463, 469, 470. Enoch, 49-51, 116, 
309,461,467. Esther, 51. Widow 
Esther, 616. Ezra, 456, 461, 
467. Fisher, 104, 441, 448, 616, 
638. Hannah, 50, 51. Mr. 
Hannah, 50. Hannah (Gay), 48. 
Hezekiah, 470. Isaac, 17, 48, 87, 
88, 93, 211, 247, 435. Israel, 132, 
219. Jacob, 48, 435. James, 50. 
Jemima, 50. Joanna E., 289. 
John, 46, 47, 114, 173, 179, 284, 
289, 290, 295, 317, 392, 435, 527, 
650, 654. John F., loi, 189, 244, 
310, 318-320, 325, 407, 624, 625, 
664,687,691. His paper on "Music 
of Ye Olden Tyme," 244, 245. Jonas, 
211,455,460,469,480. Jonathan, 
48, 435. Joseph, 45, 48, 49, 58, 81, 
84, 194, 218, 649. Josiah, 469, 
473. Judith, 46, 47, 91. Lemuel, 
47, 96, no, 202, 341, 439, 441, 456. 
Lemuel, Jr., 542, 665. Levi, 50. 
Luke, 458, 460. Luther, 372. 
Mary, 47. Matthias, 289, 290, 
392, 449, 540. Moses, 47, 50. Na- 
than, 438. Nathaniel, 47. Nehe- 
miah, 174, 431, 432, 460, 462, 480 
Nehemiah, Jr., 197, 445, 460, 469 
Oliver, 28, 46, 47, 90, 91, 95, 116, 
202, 235, 438, 441, 456, 463, 467, 
473, 483, 651. Mrs. Peady R. 
284, 289. Philip, 456, 463, 467, 
Rhoda, 50, 51. Richard, 46. Ru- 
fus, 47, 131, 346, 393, 453, 539: 
541, 542, 589, 603, 607, 646, i 
659, 663, 666, 687. Rufus H., 397 
Samuel, II, 44, 45, 48. Sarah 
50, 51. Sarah (Mrs. Fisher), 616 



Sarah (Mrs. William), 49, 50. 
Sarah C, 610. Simeon, 49-51. 
Solomon, 474, 475. Sumner B., 
189, 322, 542, 627. Susan, 46. 
Thomas, 436. Timothy, 47. Wil- 
liam, 45-47, 49-51, 56, 71, 81, 
82, 87, 92, 93, 223, 224, 234, 
382, 649. His account books, 49- 
51. William, Jr., 50, 429, 435. 
William R., 291, 320, 655, 668. 
Zachariah, 64, 71, 173, 219, 229, 
427, 435, 649, 660, 677, 684 

Mills, 34, 46, 108, 124, 130, 131. Num- 
ber of, 531 

Mills Bridge, 47, 123, 124, 130, 540 

Mills family, 44-51, 245 

Mills place, 392 

Milton, 42, 165, 218, 546, 563 

Milwaukee, Wis., 573 

Mine, 136, 137 

Ministerial land, 143, 219, 235, 238, 240, 

3 1 1-3 IS 

Ministers and Church matters, 216-327 

Ministers' names. First Church, 220, 
234,237,239-243. Congregational 
Church in West Needham, 246, 
247. First Baptist Church, 255, 
256. Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Highlandville, 269, 270. Ortho- 
dox Congregational Church in 
Grantville, 280. Evangelical Con- 
gregational Church, 191-293. 
Christ Church, 303 

Minister's Rates, 200, 212, 248, 527, 
528, 670 

Minot, William, 541 

Minute men, 439, 452-454, 457. Mus- 
ter-roll, 454, 455 

Mitchell, Charles H., 11, 584. Preston, 
266, 267, 270, 271. William, 304, 
572 

Mittens made, 400, 406, 408 

Moderators, see Town Officers 

Monday Club, 597, 598 

Monroe, F. S., Jr., 281 

Moore — Moor — More, Dr., 570. 
Eliab, 438, 565. George, 505. 
Richard, 71, 194, 217, 649, 657 

Moose, 642 

Morey, Rev. George, 237. Rev. Lewis 
W., 286, 292 

Morgan, Eliza, 327. Henry B., 327. 
John J., 40, 41, 251, 414, 613. 
Walter E., 309 

Morrill, Abraham, 307. Isaac, 14, 153, 



724 



INDEX 



373, 488, 563, 565, 569, 570, 616, 
634, 635. Nathaniel, 342. Sam- 
uel, 307 

Morse, Amos, 95, 438. Anna, 26. 
Charles S., 577. Daniel, 51, 120, 
125, 143, 247, 390, 663. Elijah, 
338. Ezra, 307. Jabez, 589, 632. 
Jason, 382. Joseph, 459, 460, 469, 
470. Josiah, 17, 26. Luther, 241, 
347, 395, 396- Martha B., 350. 
Miriam, 64. Oliver, 577. Samuel, 
IS, 26, SI, $2, 64, 130, 141, 142, 
144, 437, S30- William, 147 

Morse's Pond, 17, 80, 138, 153, 390 

Morse's Tavern, 538, 656 

Morton, Mrs., 103. Charles B., 2S0. 
Charles W., 32s, 525. J. Willard, 
393. Gov. Marcus, 170. Otis, 
212, 226, 244, 393. Perez, 455. 
William T. G., 628 

Morton property, 320, 424 

Moseley, Annie, 2s8. Herbert, 191, 
665. John, 255, 2S7, 2S8, 3S5, 372, 
407, 408, 424, 584. Gift of High 
School lot, 3SS. William, 252, 257, 
2S8, 32s, 407. Mrs. William C, 
627. William G., 181, 182, 416, 
417, 426, S17, 630, 646, 6ss, 668 

Moseley & Co., 407, 408 

Moseley Building, 191, 302, 376 

Mother Brook, 412 

Motton, Aaron, see Moulton, Aaron 

Mouldings and doors made, 409 

Moulton, Aaron, iso, 459, 460, 463. 
George W., 275, $77. Rufus, 384. 
Winsor, 259 

Mt. Holyoke College, 374 

Mudge — Mudg, Joseph, 189, 211, 323, 
333, 454, 455, 457, 563- Joseph, 
Jr., 187, 335, 336, 442, 481,632, 665. 
Rev. Zachariah A., 269 

Mudge Society of Christian Endeavor, 
267 

Mulberry trees set out, 397 

Munson, Mr., 48. Myron A., 421. 
Myron C, 116, 422 

Murdock, Artemas, 387 

Murphy, Patrick, 190 

Murphy Case, 190 

Music, at 200th anniversary, 245. In 
Methodist Church, 267, 268. In 
First Church, 308-310. In the 
schools, 345, 346, 359 

Music and musicians, 630-632 

Music Study Class, 627 



Musical Soiree, 371, 372 

Muster-rolls 

French and Indian War, 430-437. 
Capt. Robert Fuller's Company, 
435,436 
War of the American Revolution, 
454-466, 469, 470, 473, 474, 477- 
479. Minute Men, Capt. Caleb 
Kingsbery, 454, 455. East Com- 
pany, Militia, Capt. Robert Smith, 
456, 457- West Company, Mili- 
tia, Capt. Aaron Smith, 457, 458, 
461, 462. Capt. Samuel Kilton's 
Company, 459, 460 

Mutter, Nicholas, 321, 561 

Muzzey, Benoni, 438 

"My Uncle's Will," comedy played, 643 

Myrick, Isaac, 539 

Myrick's Hotel or Tavern, 444-446, 
607 

NAHANT, 9 
Nahanton Street, Newton, 9 
Nahaton, William, 10, 18; see Hahaton, 

William 
Nahatan, 9 
Nahaton Hall, Newton Upper Falls, 9, 

413 

Nahatan Street, Westwood, 9 

Nahortan, Amos, 10 

Nail-factories, 381, 383, 392, 396, 398 

Nantasket Island, 481 

Nantucket, 191 

Nash, Henry, 619 

Nashfield Brook, 140 

Nashua, N. H., 616 

Natick, II, 12, 14-17, 21, 22, 27, 32, 44, 
48, 62, 68, 69, 97, 1 10, 129, 134, 138, 
154-156, 158, 160, 192, 208, 213- 
215, 249, 259, 263, 272, 307, 358, 
359, 368, 389, 429, 437, 458, 469, 
527, 529, 530, 538, 543, 569, 579, 
589, 591, 608, 612, 626, 630, 634, 
635. Annexation of Needham Leg, 
141-144. The Leg restored to 
Needham, 144-152. Exchange of 
territory with Needham, 1797, 152, 
153. First Congregational Parish, 
307. Saint Paul's Church, 304 

Natick and Cochituate Street Railway 
Company, 418 

Natick and Needham Street Railway 
Company, 419 

Natick Brooic, 63, 138, 139, 331, 388, 
390 



INDEX 



725 



Natick Church, 33, 63, 142, 144, 150, 

151 

Natick Citizen, 630 

Natick Committee of Inspection, 149 

Natick Dividend, 20, 21, 46, 53, 54, 63, 

368 
Natick Gas and Electric Company, 586 
Natick Indians, 25, 78, 129, 143, 145, 

567 

Natick Pond, 129 

National Manufacturing Company, 579 

Nattress, Rev. George, 304 

Navy, 511. Names of Needham sol- 
diers in the Civil War arranged 
alphabetically, not indexed, 506, 

S07 

Nay, Sarah W., 284, 617 

Neal, Thomas, 530 

Neck Bridge, 121, 126, 344 

Neckfield, 136 

Needham, Norfolk County, England, Jj 

Needham and Boston Street RaiWay 
Company, 418, 419 

Needham and Newton Street Railway 
Company, 416 

Needham Associates, 425 

Needham authors, 627, 628 

Needham Brass Band, 631 

Needham Business Association and 
Board of Trade, 412, 413 

Needham Cemetery, 18, 19, 25, 31, 39, 
41, 44, 61, 231, 312, 313, 31S-321, 
324, 325, 453, 485, 506, 508, 530. 
Committee on its Improvement, 
316, 317. Deeds, 317. Sold, 317, 
318. Tombs, 318, 319. Sextons 
and superintendents, 324, 325 

Needham Cemetery Association, 318. 
Officers, 325 

Needham Choral Society, 632 

Needham Chronicle, 310, 493, 581, 629, 
630 

Needham Chronicle and Wellesley Ad- 
vertiser, 359, 629 

Needham Circuit, 258-262 

Needham Commandery, United Order 
of the Golden Cross, 592 

Needham Concert Orchestra, 632 

Needham Co-operative Bank, 425, 426 

Needham Currency, 392 

Needham End, 129 

Needham Enterprise, 630 

Needham Farmers' and Mechanics' 
Association, 612 

Needham Free Public Library, 25, 375- 



379, 408, Sp8, 534, 595, 643. 
Building at Highlandville, 376, 377. 
Catalogues, 377, 378. Trustees, 
378, 379 

Needham Globe, 630 

Needham Harmonic Orchestra, 632 

Needham Heights, 269, 271, 543, 579, 
587, 591, 592, 597, 600, 603, 612. 
Industries, 402-404. See also High- 
landville 1 

Needham Highlands, 402 

Needham Historical Society, 627 , 691 

Needham Horticultural Society, 609- 
612 

Needham Improvement Society, 585, 
596 

Needham Junction, station, 420 

Needham Leg, 27, 33, 51, 52, 62, 64, 86, 
130, 139, 155, 156, 158, 329, 389, 
429,451,530. Annexed to Natick, 
141-144, 691. Restored to Need- 
ham, 144-152. Finally annexed to 
Natick, 153 

Needham Library Association, 375, 379, 
581 

Needham Lodge, Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, 592 

Needham Lyceum, 606, 607 

Needham Market, Suffolk County 
England, 77 

Needham Military Band, 632 

Needham Nationalist Club, 594 

Needham News, 630 

Needham Plains, 264 

Needham Plain Baptist Church, see 
Churches, First Baptist Church 
in Needham 

Needham Plain Nursery, 611 

Needham Recorder, 303, 625, 630 

Needham Savings Bank, 425 

Needham Street Railway Company, 416 

Needham Temperance Society, 574, 601, 
602 

Needham Woman Suffrage Club, 593 

Needham Women's Suffrage League, 

593,594 

Needham Young People's Association, 
609 

Negroes, 213, 237, 451, 453, 467, 478, 
502, 530, 562, 565-567 

Nehoiden, William, see Hahaton, Wil- 
liam 

"Nehoiden," play, 627 

Nehoiden, post-office, 9 

Nehoiden Band of Hope, 603, 604 



726 



INDEX 



Nehoiden Block, 241, 359, 396, 401, 542, 
603, 633 

Nehoiden Club, Wellesley, 9 

Nehoiden Cornet Band, 631 

Nehoiden Division, Sons of Temper- 
ance, 603 

Nehoiden Glee Club, 63 1 

Nehoiden Hall, 283, 492, 603 

Nehoiden Land Company, 424 

Nehoiden Lodge, Knights of Honor, 591 

Nehoiden Road, Waban, 10 

Nehoiden Street, 9, 18, 19, 41, 100. 
Pond, 139 

Neponset Bridge, 113 

Ness, John, 211 

New Bedford, Pacific Congregational 
Church, 280 

New Berne, N. C, 497, 504 

New Bridge, 114, 118, 119, 121, 130 

New Brunswick, N. J., 405 

New Cambridge, 55 

New Century Club, 599 

New Emission bills, 515 

New England and New York Railroad 
Company, 415 

New England Historic Genealogical 
Society, 230, 519 

New England Historical and Genea- 
logical Register, 15, 228, 485 

New England Methodist Historical 
Society, 260 

New England Railroad Company, 414, 
415, 418, 420 

New Hampshire, House of Representa- 
tives, 255 

New Haven, Conn., 618 

New London District, 262 

New Orleans, La., 504 

New York, city, 292, 623. State, 465, 
466, sii 

New York and Boston Railroad Com- 
pany, 413, 414 

New York and New England Railroad 
Company, 413-415 

New York, New Haven and Hartford 
Railroad Company, 415, 418, 
420 

Newbery, William B., 387 

Newbury, 363 

Newcomb, Alithea A., 272. Rev. 
Harvey, 246, 271-274, 280, 627. 
His ordination, 273. His salary, 
276. His "Cyclopedia of Mis- 
sions," 627 

Newell, Rev. Mr., 237. Artemas, 100, 



125, 159-162, 240, 309, 344, 345, 
413, 414, 442, 446, 488, 490, 550, 
551, 554, 603, 633, 648, 653, 662, 
665. Augustus W., 29, 576. Ben- 
jamin, 391. David, 456. Ebenezer, 
14, 167, 197, 198, 203, 209, 450, 
527,677,687. Esther, 335. Fred- 
erick H., 52. George, 550. Han- 
nah, 66. Isaac, 52. Jonathan, 97, 
100, 226, 241, 441, 563, 589. Mrs. 
Jonathan, 241. Rev. Jonathan, 
334, 372. Joseph, 47, 121, 342, 554, 
653. Josiah, 14, 16, 21, 52, 53, 59, 
66, 67, 82, 84, 87, 89, 91, 92, 95, 
97, 109, 118, 120, 135, 164, 165, 
167, 168, 173, 174, 181, 183, 184, 
189, 199, 200, 202, 208, 214, 219, 
220, 223, 225, 229, 231, 234, 247, 
321, 322, 339, 369, 391, 442, 457, 
461, 470-472, 475, 477, 482, 513, 
515, 517, 519, 530, 536, 543, 557, 
558, 562, 563, 637, 648-650, 652, 
657, 660, 661. Josiah, Jr., 108, 
202, 225, 333, 335, 336, 435, 457, 
472, 482, 637. Lydia, 39. Mar- 
shall, 182, 352, 358, 490, 491, 
545. Mary, 344. Nathan, 457. 
Rebeckah, 316. Reuben, 461,463, 
475, 476. Timothy, 52, 91, 94, 
116, 118, 119, 167, 187, 196, 203, 
208, 233, 321, 427, 472, 483, 554, 
651, 658,678,687 

Newell family, 29, 52 

Newell's Bridge, 32, 120-122 

Newell's Hall, 52, 243, 608 

Newell's Road, 93 

Newhall, Dr., 541 

Newport News, Va., 497 

Newspapers and periodicals, 628-630 

Newton, George E., 284. George F., 
278 

Newton — Newtown, 9, 17, 22, 24, 30, 33, 
47,56,63,83,86,98,113-117, 124, 
127, 130, 132, 134, 137, 142, 219, 
224, 225, 248, 249, 341, 371, 380, 
381, 386, 388, 416, 430, 433, 434, 
486, 497, 504, 512, 540, 543, 544, 
548, 557, 568-570, 576, 579, 582, 
616, 633, 644. Baptist Church, 307. 
First Church, 272. Turtle Island 
annexed, 163 

Newton & Boston Street Railway 
Company, 105, 115, 417-419 

Newton and Watertown Gas Light 
Company, 585 



INDEX 



727 



Newton Centre, 250, 283, 413, 579. 
Baptist Church, 248, 249 

Newton Corner, 579 

Newton Factories Company, 380 

Newton Highlands, 243, 285, 302, 402, 
413. Grace Church, 303 

Newton Iron Works Company, 163, 
380 

Newton Lower Falls, 302, 331, 390, 
569, 570, 572. Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, 264-267. Its Sun- 
day School, 265. Saint Mary's 
Church, 302, 307, 327 

Newton, Needham and Natick Society 
for apprehending Horse Thieves, 
608, 609 

Newton Railroad House, 447 

Newton Upper Falls, 10, 127, 250,262, 
413, 447, 570, 571, 591. Baptist 
Church, 301. Methodist Church, 
262-264. Saint Mary's Church, 
296, 297 

Niagara, fire-engine, 379 

Niagara Engine Company, 580 

Nichols, John, 363 

Nickerson, Joseph M., 294, 295, 355 

"Nighthawk," 583 

Nine Arch Bridge, 20, 127, 139 

Nixon, Mary, 617 

Noanet Hall, 52, 243, 608 

Nonagenarians, 615-619 

Nonsuch Pond, 390 

Noon, Rev. Samuel H., 269 

Noon-house, 204, 205, 613 

Norcross Bros. Co., 278 

Norfolk, Duke of, 589, 590 

Norfolk, 647 

Norfolk Agricultural Society, 609 

Norfolk Conference of Unitarian and 
other Christian Churches, 244 

Norfolk County, 16, 23, 137, 165, 170, 
238, 370, 388, 440, 529. Set off 
from Suffolk, 164. District Court, 
645, 647 

Norfolk County, England, 77 

Norfolk County Commissioners, 415 

Norfolk County Journal Press, 188 

Norfolk County Temperance Society, 
602 

Norfolk Lodge, Masons, 589, 590 

Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 440, 442, 444- 
449. Officers, 244, 449. Uni- 
forms, 444, 445, 448. First pub- 
lic appearance, 445. Music, 446, 
447. Musters, 446, 447. Corn- 



wallis celebration held, 447, 448. 

Records, 448, 449 
North Beverly, 618 
North Haverhill, N. H., 619 
North Hill, 13, 28, 29, 39, 53, 135, 194, 

231, 312-314, 621, 687 
North Natick graveyard, 27, 149, 

327 

North River, 479 

North school district, 343, 344, 348- 
35°, 357, 358, 366 

North school-house, 42, 99, 349, 351, 
357, 358- Teachers, 363, 364 

Northern Army, 477-479 

Northwest Highway district, 95 

Northwest school district, 351 

Northwest school-house, 35 1 

Nottinghamshire, England, 402 

Nova Scotia, 432, 555, 557 

Noyes, Charles, 271, 272, 309, 542, 543. 
Elizabeth (Mrs. josiah), 284, 370, 
394, 574, 593, 610. Dr. Josiah, 
131, 137, 161, 242, 282-284, 290, 
295, 309, 310, 352, 392, 397, 569- 
571, 589, 593, 601, 602, 606-608, 
612, 666. Sketch of his life, 573- 
575. Rebecca, 207. Sarah B., 272. 
Rev. Thomas, 207, 246, 312, 
486, 488, 489, 542, 573, 624, 665. 
His "Address delivered at the 
West Parish in Needham, before the 
Military Company of Exempts, at 
their disbanding, on Wednesday, 
April 19, 181S," 489 

Noyes barn, 633 

Noyes place, 100, 633 

Noyes Street, 539, 575 

Noyes's Brook, 139 

Nye, William H., 282 

OAK HILL, 34 
OakStreet, 63,80, 415 
Oak trees, old, 205, 613, 614, 691 
Oakhurst, 424 
Oakland, 162 

Oakland Hall School, 301, 354, 372 
Oakland Institute, 102, 371, 372, 605, 

611 
Oakland Park, 424 
Oaks, Rev. Josiah, 216 
O'Brien, — Obrain — Obryan, — , 469. 

Elizabeth K., 617. Luke, 486. 

Mark, 486. Richard, 457 
Obscow, Jonas, 477 
Ockinton, David, 53, 462. Hannah, 



728 



INDEX 



53. Lydia, 224. Matthias, 53, 
71, 80, 194, 518, 671. Susannah, 
53. Thomas, 53, 76. William, 53, 
85, 230, 332 

Ockington family, 53 

Ockington Field, 194 

Odd Fellows, 591 

Odd Fellows Building, 358, 359, 591, 

604, 630. Burned, 1887, 581, 590, 

Odd Fellows Hall, 590, 591, 604 

O'Keefe, Michael, 297. Mrs. Michael, 
297 

Old Colony Railroad Company, 415, 
420 

Old Colony Street Railway, 419, 424 

"Old Growl," 12, 226 

"01dHawes,"4S2 

Old Home Celebration, 624-626 

"Old Home Week," 192, 624-626 

Old local names, ponds and streams, 
135-140 

Old maps in the State Archives, 129- 
132 

"Old Peppermill," 204 

"Old Snap," 27 

Oldest house in Needham, 28, 85 

O'Leary, Rupert D. G., 205 

Oliver, Mr., 174. Rev. Daniel, 246 

Olustee, Fla., 500 

O'Neil, John, 397. Margaret, 284 

O'Neil property, 320, 392 

Ophicleide, or tuber, horn, 630 

Orcutt, Charles E., 305 

Orders and Societies, 589-614. Masonic, 
859. Norfolk Lodge 589, 590. 
Odd Fellows, 591. Other Societies 
and Orders, 591-593. Ladies' 
Charitable Socitey, 593. Need- 
ham Women's Suffrage League, 
593> 594- Needham Nationalist 
Club, 594. Social and Literary 
Union, 594, 595. Young Men's 
Christian Association of High- 
landville, 595, 596. Needham im- 
provement societies, 596, 597. 
Chautauqua Literary and Scien- 
tific Circle, 597. Tea and Toast 
Club, 597, 691. Monday Club, 597, 
598. Unitarian Club, 598. New 
Century Club, 599. Albion Cricket 
Club, 599, 600. Organizations 
for amusement, 600. Temper- 
ance and temperance societies, 601- 

605. Needham Lyceum, 606-608. 



Newton, Needham and Natick 
Society for apprehending Horse 
Thieves, 608, 609. NeedhamYoung 
People's Association, 609. Agri- 
cultural and kindred societies, 609- 
612. Needham Farmers and Me- 
chanics Association, 612 

Ordinations, Rev. Jonathan Townsend, 
224. Rev. Samuel West, 235, 
Rev. Stephen Palmer, 237. Rev. 
Harvey Newcomb, 273. Rev. 
William Barrows, 274. Rev. Ed- 
ward S. Atwood, 274, 275. Rev. 
Charles H. Williams, 275. Rev 
JamesM. Hubbard, 275. Rev. John 
L. Harris, 275. Rev. Jonathan Ed- 
wards, 276. Rev. Avery S. Wal- 
ker, 286, 287 

Organ, West Church, 246. Baptist 
Church, 251. Orthodox Congre- 
gational Church, Grantville, 276, 
279. Evangelical Congregational 
Church, 289 

Orgill — Orgels — Orgile, Richard, 53. 
Sarah, 53, 330 

Orgill family, 53 

Ormoc, Island of Leyte, Philippines, 511 

Orr, Galen, 162, 240, 289-291, 320, 353, 
356, 357, 359, 393, 395-398, 425, 
449, 492, 493, 576, 603, 646, 647, 
654. Galen, & Co., 396. Mrs. 
Galen, 507. Thomas, 262, 393, 
449, 613 

Orr's lower mill, 398 

Orthodox Congregational Church in 
Grantville, see Churches 

Orthodox Congregational Meeting- 
house, see Meeting-houses 

Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational 
Church, see Churches, Orthodox 
Congregational Church in Grant- 
ville 

Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational 
Society, see Wellesley Hills Con- 
gregational Society 

Osborn, Rev. V. R., 261 

Osgood, Josiah A., 298 

Osnaburghs manufactured, 380 

Ostrander, Rev. Daniel, 260 

Otheman, Rev. Bartholomew, 261 

Otis, Rev. Erastus, 261 

Our Social Club, 306 

Overseers of the poor, see Town Officers 

Overton, Thomas, 510 

Ox meadow brook, 86 



INDEX 



729 



Oxen, 64, 109, 116, 531, 532 
Oxford, 37, 38 



PACKARD, Rev. Hezekiah, 237 

■*■ Page, Jeremiah, 475 

Page, Josephine C, 668 

Paine — Pain — Payn, Mr., 423. Aaron, 
456, 459, 468. Anna, 54. Anna 
(Mills), 54. Anne, 225. Ephraim, 
54, 435, 472, 684. John, 14, 54, 80, 
87, 198, 223, 464, 476, 671. John, 
Jr., 223, 435. Ruth, 54. Samuel, 
456, 461, 480. Susanna, 225. 
Thomas, 117, 435 

Paine family, 54 

Paine Land, 423 

Paine's Hill, 54 

Paint works, 125, 388, 389, 409 

Palmer, Alanson, 363. Albert, 363. 
Catharine, 238, 240. George W., 
250, 610, 611. Joseph, 239, 373. 
Rev. Stephen, 17, 76, 195, 204, 312, 
322,344,488,489,624. His "Cen- 
tury Sermon," 195, 202, 239, 623, 
627. His students, 236. His minis- 
try, 237-239. His ordination, 237. 
His salary, 238. His writings, 239. 
His autobiography, 239. His revi- 
sion of Watts's "Psalms and 
Hymns," 239, 246. His "Sermon 
preached before the Military Com- 
pany of Exempts, in Needham, on 
Thursday, Nov. 17, 1814," 488. 
Wilson, 363 

Palmer-M'^Intosh tomb, 239, 319 

Pantheon Hall, Boston, 447 

Paper-mills, 95, 130, 131, 160, 178, 380, 
382-392, 409. First Mill, 382. 
Second Mill, 382-384. Third Mill, 
_ 384-386 _ 

Parish committee, 212, 245, 317 

Parish House, 242 

Parish records, 213, 221-229 

Parishes, division of town into two, 207- 
212. First or East, 42, 152-162, 
212-215, 243, 262, 286, 295, 306, 
308-310, 312, 313, 316, 318, 320- 
322, 336, 347, 350, 414, 519, 593, 
598, 602, 605, 621. West or Sec- 
ond, 152-162, 180, 214, 228, 271, 
307, 312, 313, 602 

Park — Parcke, William, 11 

Park, Wellesley Hills, 541 

Park Commissioners, see Town Officers 



Parker, Abigail, 331. Alfred, 664. 
Benjamin, 56. Benjamin W., 444. 
Rev. Clement, 261. David, 469. 
Deliverance, 55, 223, 225, 615. 
Ebenezer, 55. Elijah, 432. Elisha, 

434. Enoch, 133, 152, 338, 463, 
482, 516, 523, 652. Ephraim, 120, 
122, 124. Hannah, 55, 225. Hor- 
ace B., 418. Isaac, 37, 56, 71. 
Jabez, 55. Jacob, 211, 454, 523, 
546. Jacob, Jr., 460. James, 432. 
John, 54, 55, 71, 80, 546, 547. 
John, Jr., 71. Jonathan, 55, 58, 
71, 82, 196, 223, 224, 360, 435, 
452, 456, 527, 658, 665. Joseph, 
55. Rev. Joseph W., 251. Joshua, 

435. Josiah, 469. Mrs. M. F., 279. 
Mercy, 224. Nathan, 291, 295. 
Obed C, 191, 353. Olive, 96. 
Richard, 277. Samuel, 55, 56, 71, 
144, 196, 218, 229, 308, 313, 650, 
677, 683. Sarah, 55. Solomon P., 
468. Thomas, 47, 55, 380. Wil- 
liam, 55, 383,430,431. William B., 
98, 161, 440, 444, 445, 449 

Parker Building, 591, 604 

Parker family, 54-56 

Parker Hall, 190, 191, 193, 372, 507, 590, 
594, 604, 612. Burned, 1882, 590 

Parker place, 259 

Parker Plain, 85, 100 

Parker School, 360, 452, 472, 566 

Parks, Walter L., 377 

Parks and Public Grounds, 587, 5SS 

Parlin, Frank E., 358 

Parsonages, First Church, 241. Con- 
gregational Church, 246. Baptist 
Church, 251. Methodist Church, 
268. Orthodox Congregational 
Church, Grantville, 276. Evan- 
gelical Congregational Churcli, 
289. Unitarian Society of Grant- 
ville, 301 

Partridge, Colonel, 145 

"Passing bell," 322 

Patrick, Rev. Henry J., 288 

Patten, Claudius B., 491, 667. Jon- 
athan, 428 

Pawtucket, R. I., 274 

Pay-rolls. Revolution, 460, 475, 477. 
Capt. Robert Smith's Company, 
1776, 460, 461. Capt. Aaron 
Smith's Company, 1777, 477 

Payne, William C, 304 

Peabody, Charles E., 505. Ezekiel, 554, 



730 



INDEX 



640. Rev. Oliver, 141-144, 227. 
Thomas F., 582 

Pease, Charles W., 572 

Peat, 553 

Peck, Rev. William W., 243-245 

Peirce, see Pierce 

Pember, Rev. Frederick, 302, 303 

Pemberton, Rev. Ebenezer, 218 

Pen, James, 682 

Pepelo, John, 435 

Pepper, Robert, 331 

Pepperell, 617 

Peppermill Road, 204 

Perambulation of town lines, 32, 58, 75, 
132, 133, 145, 260, 656. Compen- 
sation, 132 

Percy, Earl, 451 

Periodicals, 628-630 

Perkins, Dr., 572. Mr., 486. Rev. Mr., 
219. Albert L., 268. Rev. Francis 
B., 275,276. Henry G., 281. Rev. 
Jared, 261 

Perrin, David C, 298, 299. Ellen P., 
298. Noah, 264, 270 

Perry, Calvin, 285, 295, 490. Rev. 
Daniel, 261. Jemima, 615. John J., 

lOI 

Personal Property, assessed valuation 

at different periods, 532 
Petersburg, Va., 493 
Petersham, 434 
Peterson, Rev. John, 266, 269 
Petition for the division of the town into 

two parishes, 209-211. Names of 

petitioners, 211 
Petition for the incorporation of the 

town, 68-71 
Petitioners for incorporation, names, 71 
Petitioners in boundary dispute with 

Dedham, names, 74 
Pettee, Ebenezer N., 307. Otis, 10, 

381, 391, 412. Tyler, 578, 589, 

654 

Pettingill, Captain, 469,470. H. Eliza- 
beth, 272. Hannah D., 272 

Pews, First Church, 195, 196, 199, 200, 
205, 206, 515. Christ Church, 303 

Phebe, negro, 565 

Phelps, Mr., 128. David, 530 

Philadelphia, Pa., 255 

Phillips, Adelaide, 602. Freeman, 207, 
356-358, 654 

Phipps, Rev. George G., 247, 286, 667 

Physicians, 568-575 

Pickerell Pond, 138 



Pickering, Rev. George, 258-260, 262. 
Jane W., 284, 287. Oliver, 356, 
37S> 552 

Pickett, Mary A., 284. Thomas F., 266. 
William B., 284 

Pickford, Anna M. T., 61, 319, 452 

Pierce — Peirce, Colonel, 476. Jacob, 
22, no, 122. Joel, 259, 263, 264. 
Parker H., 387. Sarah, 263. Wil- 
liam, III, 122, 317, 350, 441, 553, 
578, 654, 665 

Pierce Bridge, 122, 133 

Pierce family, 22, 540 

Pierce Road, 122 

Pierepont, Rev. Mr., 220 

Pigeon nets, 46 

Pigeons, wild, 46, 49, 51. Fancy, 613 

Piggery, 636 

Pilfershire, 135 

Pilgrim Society, 575 

Pilsbury, Captain, 469 

Pine Hill, 136 

Pine Plain, 45, 65, lOO, 136, 148 

Pine Swamp, 20, 29, 36, 395 

Pine Swamp Neck, 14, 135 

"Pines, The," 372 

Plainfield, Conn., 540 

Planing-mill, 389, 407, 408 

Plank, Asa, 478. Isaiah, 478 

Plans referred to in the records, 133, 

134 

Plates given to Congregational Church, 
246. First Church, 238. Evan- 
gelical Congregational Church, 290 

Plimpton, Priscilla, 235 

Plough for roads bought, IIO 

Plumb, Rev. Albert H., 286 

Plumbing regulations, 193 

Plymouth, N. C, 504 

Poles Island, 82, 87, 90, 109 

Police, 673, 674 

Political parties, 169-172 

Politician & Advocate Press, 602 

Polk, Pres. James K., 171 

Polka mittens made, 408 

Polls, number of, at different periods, 

530-532 
Pompoons, 448 
Ponce, Puerto Rico, 510 
Pond, Dr., 49. General, 438. Albert 

C., 416. Edmund G., 291, 361, 

584. Rev. Joseph E., 261. Samuel, 

616 
Pond Brook, 16 
Pond-hole, 149 



INDEX 



731 



Pond Road, 558 

Pond Street, 80 

Ponds and streams, 138-140 

Poor, see Town's Poor 

Poor-farm, Town farm, l6l, 163, 546, 
IS^h'i^, 638 

Pope, Arthur W., 355 

Population at different periods, 171 1- 
1910, 532 

Port Tampa, Fla., 510 

Porter, Rev. James, 261. Joel, 472 

Porter & Fuller, 301 

Porter & Lancey, 391 

Postmasters, 370, 405, 541-544 

Post-offices, 191, 541-544 

Potter, Allanson C, 618. Austin, 655, 
656. S.H., 577 

Poultry Club, 612 

Pound-keepers, see Town Officers 

Pounds and stocks, 637-639 

Powder chest, 196, 443 

Powder-horn, 627 

Powder-house, 427, 428, 443 

Powder House Ledge, 427, 428 

Powell's Island, 38, 127, 135 

Powers, Eliza, 299. Samuel L., 377 

Poyner, Joseph, 269. Rachel, 269 

Pratt — Prat, Mr., 446. Cyrus, 125, 
486. Daniel, 56, 57, 124, 330. 
Daniel, Jr., 435. Deborah, 34, 57. 
Ebenezer, 43 1, 435. Henry, 84, 89, 
229, 330-332, 649. Isachar, 458, 
462. Lemuel, 89, 90, 1 17, 133, 146, 
147, 165, 201, 203, 211, 215, 520, 
640, 644, 651. Moses, 431, 432. 
Phinehas, 56. Samuel, 57, 123, 
158,163,211,447,458,652. Seth, 
458, 460, 462, 466, 478. Zebadiah, 
186, 433, 458, 463 

Pratt family, 56, 57 

Pratt Farm, 57 

Pratt's Bridge, 57, 114, 116, 123, 124, 
130, 386 

Praying Indians, 390 

Preble, Jedidiah, 211. Jeremiah, 151 

Prentice, Rev. Nathaniel, 220 

Prentiss, Robert, 397 

Prescott, John, 428 

Preston, J. H., 268 

Prices of commodities, 535-537 

Priest, Thurston, 387 

Primary school, 356, 359 

Prince, negro, 565 

Prindeville, J. J., 361 

Printing offices, 629, 630 



Private Expedition to Providence, 1777, 
472, 476, 477, 480 

Private schools, 370-372, 543 

Probert, Francis T., 271. William A., 
186, 656 

Proprietors of Meadow Lands, 134 

Providence, R. I., 475, 481 

Province Laws, 555 

Province tax, 73, 450, 519, 520, 527- 
530 

Provincial Congress, 165, 166, 450 

Prudential school committees, see 
Town Officers, School Committee 

Psalms tuned, 308 

Public Grounds, 587, 588 

Public Library, see Needham Free 
Public Library 

Public Weighers, see Town Officers 

Pudding Point, 357, 566 

Puffer, Rev. Joseph A., 243, 244 

Pulpit, First Meeting-house, relics 
preserved, 197. Orthodox Con- 
gregational Church in Grantville, 
furniture given, 279 

Pumping station, 583, 584 

Purchase of township, 9 

Purkett, Henry, 469 

Putnam, Col. R., 469, 470, 478 

Putney, Lyman K., 163, 278, 358, 646, 
655, 664. Walter K., 358 

Pyncheon, John J., 174. Joseph, 331 

QUALIFICATIONS of voters, 173- 
176 
Quapish, Alexander, 559 
Quebec, 485 
Quincy, John, 174 
Quincy, 279 

Quinlan, Michael W., 637 
Quint, Rev. Alonzo H., 287 

RAILROAD Passenger House, 276 
Railroads, 413-416. Engineers and 

conductors, 421, 422 
Rams, 638, 639 
Ramsdell, Rev. H. S., 261 
Randall, Benjamin F., 447-449 
Randolph, 579 
Rankins, James, 307 
Rattlesnake shot, loi 
Ravlin, Rev. Thomas, 261 
Rawson, Rev. Silas B., 353 
Read — Reed — Reid, Rev. Edward A., 

239, 254, 256. Eliphalct, 471. 

Francis E., 186. James J., 297. 



732 



INDEX 



Mrs. James J., 297. Nelson S., 285, 
288, 293 

Readville, 498 

Real Estate, assessed valuation at 
diflferent periods, 532 

Recognition Council, 250 

Redmen, Improved Order of, 592 

"Regiments and Armories of Massa- 
chusetts," 442 

Registrar of Deeds, 169, 170 

Registrars of voters, see Town Officers 

Rehoboth, 237 

Representatives in Congress, 169, 170 

Representatives in the General Court, 
I59> 165, 171, 177, 182-184, 186, 
196, 645-647 

Republican Party, 171 

Reservoir Pond, 139 

Reservoir Street, 102 

Residents of Needham who have lived 
Ninety Years, 615-619 

Revere, George, 100, 240, 241, 316, 350, 
396, 603. George B., 401. Paul, 
& Son, 204 

Revere Block, 396 

Reynolds, James, 100 

Rhode Island, 481. Battle of, 476 

Rhode Island Campaign, 475-477 

Rhododendrons, Hunnewell estate, 634 

Richmond, Va., 501 

Rice, Abram, 307. Gov. Alexander H., 
370. Charles, 57, 161, 345-349, 
387, 389, 440, 447, 453, 550, 576, 
589, 607, 623, 646, 648, 653, 665. 
Charles, Jr., 384, 389, 577. 
Edmund, 33. Elizabeth, 57. Mrs, 
Elizabeth, 57. Ephraim, 62. 
Frederick W., 382. Isaac, 33. 
John, 48, 57, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 
19s, 198, 221, 649. John L., 385. 
Judith, 48, 57. Widow Judith, 
57. Marshall S., 413, 414. Mar- 
tha, 33. Matthew, 33. Rev. Na- 
than, 261. Nathan P., his "Trials 
of a Public Benefactor, as Illustrated 
in the Discovery of Etherization," 
628. Sybilla, 33. Thomas, 384, 
385. Thomas, Jr., 382 

Rice & Crane, 385 

Rice family, 33, 57 

Rice, Thomas, Paper Company, 382, 

384 
Rice's Block, 540 
Rich, Rev. Thomas, 239 
Richards, Aaron, 203. Abijah, '478. 



Daniel W., 192, 656. David, 51, 
303. Rev. George, 274. Hannah, 
51. John E., 603, 613. Joseph, 79, 
179. Nathaniel, 28. Reuben, 119. 
Samuel, 435, 538. Stephen, 428 

Richardson, Aaron, 202. Abigail, 137. 
Benjamin, 126. Ebenezer, 456, 459, 
463, 470, 472. Ezekiel, 58, 173, 454, 
526, 672. Ezekiel, Jr., 203. George 
v., 257. James, 190. Jonathan, 
688. Mehitable, 137. Mehitable 
(Smith), 137. Rev. Norman E., 
269. Peter, 526. Richard, 137, 
203, 457. Samuel, 203. Theoph- 
ilus, 116, 322, 430-432, 457, 460, 
463. Theophilus, Jr., 203, 456, 464 

Richardson gravel pit, 126, 587 

Ricker, Rev. Joel, 261 

Rideout, Benjamin W., 294 

Ridge Hill, 91, 136, 140 

Ridge Hill Farms, 17, 138, 139. Lakes, 

138, 139 
Riley, Ernest E., 613, 614 
Rimmele Brothers, 401 
Ringgold, Ga., 510 
Riordan, Rev. Cornelius J., 296 
Risk, Elizabeth, 617 
Risley, Rev. J. E., 261 
Ritchie, James, 373. Rev. William, 29, 

239, 240, 312, 393, 395, 576, 665. 

His salary, 239, 240. William, Jr., 

666 
Rittenhouse, Lemuel, 307 
River Park, 40, 423-425 
Road books, 112 
Road commissioners, iii 
Roads, 78-106 
Robbins, George H., 507 
Robe, Rev. Thomas, 220 
Roberts, William, 287 
Robinson, David, 435. George, 83, 

194,218. Henry, 274, 646. James 

D., 250. John, 430, 431. Lemuel, 

463. Reuben T., 666 
Robinson & Roberts, 350 
Rochester, 235 
Rochester, N. H., 335 
Rockport, 296 
Rocks, The, 40, 41 
Rod and Gun Club, 600 
Rogers — Rodgers, Henry D., 579, 580, 

585. Fitzwilliam, 271-273, 277, 

281. Mary C, 272 
Rolling-mill, 120 
Rollins, George H., 197, 245 



INDEX 



733 



Roper, Robert G., 400, 408. William, 

400, 408 
Roper & Sons, 408 
Roper Bros., 408 
Rose, Henry, 149 
Roseleau, Calise, 618 
Rosemary Brook, 23, 38, 114, 126, 240, 

311,329,397 
Rosemary Brook Batting Mill, 397 
Rosemary Commandery, United Order 

of the Golden Star, 592 
Rosemary — Rosemer — Rosemery — 

Rosemerry Meadow, 20, 40, 41, 

63-66,76,93, 135, 140, 311, 313 
Rosemary Meadow Brook, 76, 78, 81 
Rosemary Meadow Dam, 82, 84, 90. 
Rosemary Meadow Plain, 82 
Rosemary Plain, 29 
Rosemary Plain Pond, 53 
Rosemary Pond, 92, 93, 105, 139, 397 
Rosemary Street, 97, 105 
Ross, Albert R., 377 
Rotch & Tilden, 300 
Roxbury, 13, 42, 43, 52, e-], 78, 188, 

224-226, 23s, 392, 430, 433, 438, 

446, 462, 464, 481, 483, 530, 61S, 

617 
Roxbury Horse Guards, 442 
Royal Arcanum, 592 
Royal Artillery, 510 
Ruggles, Timothy, 430 
Rum, 203, 369, 392, 576 
Rural delivery, 544 
Russell, Edward, 95. Rev. Edward, 

234. Harris, 298. M. M., 298. 

Simeon, 475. W. S., 595 
Rutter, Miciah M., 609 
Ryan James F., 376, 664 
Ryan's Hill, 584 

SABIN, Rev. Elijah R., 260 
Sachem's Hill, 11 
Sacramental Vessels, see Communion 

service 
Safford, Henry, 252 
St. David Musical Society, 311 
Saint Elmo Council, Royal Arcanum, 

592 
Saint John's Church, see Churches 
Saint Joseph's Church, see Churches 
St. Lawrence University, 242 
St. Louis, Mo., 242 
Saint Mary's Cemetery, 327, 338 
Salem, 165, 242, 280, 387, 395, 667 
Salisbury, Nicholas, 53 



Salisbury, N. C, 498, 501 

Sampson, Eugene H., 391 

San Francisco, 271, 628 

San Francisco relief, 562 

"Sand Hole," 603 

Sanders — Sandars, Rev. Daniel C, 372. 
Israel, 436. Peter, 435 

Sanderson, Henry L., 275, 276, 282 

Sanford, Milton H., 380 

Sanger, Daniel, 428. William, 203. 
Rev. Zedekiah, 335 

Santiago, Cuba, 510 

Sargent, Captain, 469. John, 609 

Sargent's Tavern, 540, 541, 589 

Sash and blind-shop, 394, 395 

Sashes made, 394 

Savannah, Ga., 504 

Savings department of Elliot Mfg. Co., 
381 

Sawin, Calvin, 307. Thomas, 437 

Sawmill Bridge, 126, 602 

Sawmill Brook, 22, 143 

Sawmill pond, 390 

Sawmills, 46, 108, 114, 126, 130, 131, 
380, 383, 390, 393 

Sawtelle, Rev. Charles E., 256 

Sawyer, Charlotte, 363. Charlotte M., 
363, Harriet E., 363, 610. Otis, 
44, 349. 363, 554, 654, 665 

Scarrett, Rev. Isaac, 281 

Schirmer, J. Walter, 572 

School-books, 345, 360 

School census, 522 

School Committee, see Town Officers 

"School Dame," 331, 332, 364 

School district libraries, 348, 375 

School Districts, 336-341, 343-35^ 
Committees, 336, 337, 348. Rec- 
ord of a meeting, 338, 339 

School Farm, 53, 80, 691 

School Fund, 355, 356, 360, 361, 517, 
586 

School furniture, 342 

School ground, 13, 78 

School-houses, 329-335, 337-351, 353- 
361. Names, 360 

School Land in Dover, 159, 162, 344, 
345, 360, 368-370, 533 

School reports, 188, 189, 345, 349, 350, 

352-354 
School teachers, 344, 348, 361-367. First 
woman, 331. Provincial period, 

334, 335 
School terms, 337 
Schools, 13, 328-379, 534, 643- Early 



734 



INDEX 



schools, 328-335. School-houses, 
329-335. 337-351- School dis- 
tricts, 336-341. 343-351- School 
teachers, 331, 334, 335, 348, 361- 
364, 366, 367. Their wages, 364- 
366. School money, 343-345. High 
Schools, 352-356. Appropriations 
533. 534- Seven new school-houses, 
356-361. Superintendents, 358. 
Appropriations, 364-366. Statis- 
tics, 366-367. School Land in 
Dover, 3 68-3 70. Private schools, 
370-372 

Scotch-Irish, 227 

Scott — Scot, David, 688. Samuel, 346 

Scotton, John, 407. Thomas, 407. 
William, 596 

Scudder, Henry B., 358, 668. Marshall 
S., 274, 275, 282 

Seabury, Rev. Joseph B., 286 

Seacomb, 430 

Sealers of Bread, see Town Officers 

Sealers of Leather, see Town Officers 

Sealers of Weights and Measures, see 
Town Officers 

Seating the Meeting-house, 198-200 

Seaver, Rev. Mr., 220 

Beaver Street, 100, 131 

Second Dam, Lower Falls, 386 

Second Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses, First Church 

Second Parish, see Parishes, West Parish 

Selectmen, see Town Officers 

Senior Young People's Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor, 253 

Seraphine hired, 246 

Sessions, Rev. Joseph W., 264, 666 

Severns — Sevens, Joseph, 307. Sam- 
uel, 307 

Sewall, Judge Samuel, 44, 358. Sam- 
uel E., 327 

Sextons, 324, 325 

Shad, 644 

Shapleigh, Me., 618 

Sharon, N. Y., 618 

Shattuck's Building, 591 

Shattuck's grocery-store, 353 

Shaver, Rev. Melville A., 288, 293 

Shaw, Herbert, 407. James F., 420. 
John W., loi, 162, 163, 298, 300, 
357, 424, 541. Gifts to Shaw 
School, 357. Mrs. John W., 330. 
Robert, 407. Sarah E., 298 

Shaw School-house, 354, 357 

Shays, Daniel, 438 



Shays's Rebellion, 437, 438 

Shedd, William G. T., 275 

Sheep, 638, 644. Number at different 
periods, 531, 535. Value, 531 

Sheldon, Colonel, 469 

Shepard — Shephard — Shepherd — 
Sheppard, Mr., 91. Mrs., 52. Al- 
exander, '557, 558. Calvin, 307. 
Isaac, 54, 212, 225, 309, 335, 337, 
339, 456, 467, 481, 488, 516, 624, 
648, 652, 661. Lemuel, 446, 541 

Shepherson, Henry, 294 

Sherborn — Sherburn — Sherburne, 51, 
141, 152, 273, 430, 561, 612, 623. 
Cent Society, 207 

Sherborn — Sherburn road, 88, 89 

Sherburne, Henry, 469 

Sheridan, Mr., 65, 83, 403 

Sherman, Gen. William T., 573 

Shetland shawls made, 408 

Shine, James J., 297 

Shirley, Gov. William, 143, 144 

Shirley, 422 

"Shoddy" manufactured, 387, 391,399, 
409 

Shoe-factory, 390 

Shoe-shops, 401 

Shores, James M., 618 

Shumway, Judith, 47 

Sidewalks, 103 

Sierra Magazine, 628, 629 

Silk-factory, 389, 397 

Silk gloves made, 400 

Silk goods made, 389, 397, 400, 406, 408, 
410 

Silk hosiery made, 406 

Silk mittens made, 406, 408 

Silk-worms, 397 

Sllverhorn, Rev. William, 269 

Silvia, negro, 565 

SImonds, Elijah, 577 

Sincerity Lodge, I. O. O. P., 591 

Singers, 213, 308-310 

Singing School, 3 10 

SIsco — Cisco, — ,566. Hadassah, 616 

SIsco family, 566 

Skeensborough, New York, 466 

Skinner, Ebenezer, 41, 57, 119, 434, 548, 
650, 660 

Slack, Benjamin, 96-99, 120, 157, 160, 
161, 182, 207, 277, 339, 344, 384, 
385, 488, 519, 550, 563, 584, 601, 
608, 609, 648, 653, 662, 666, 688. 
John, 94, 124, 134, 167, 170, 181, 
209, 336, 450, 458, 462, 468, 471, 



INDEX 



735 



481, 482, 515, 651, 661. John, 
J., 482. John VV., 178, 446, 523, 
541, 608, 609, 647. Thaddeus, 473 

Slack's Hotel, 446 

Slaney, Franklin W., 511 

Slaves, 149, 565-567 

Slitting-mill, 97, 120 

Small, A. H., 447. Henry T., 307 

Smallpox and Hospitals, 562, 563 

Smith, Captain, 473. Lieut-Colonel, 
451. Rev. Mr., 237. Aaron, 58- 

60, 84, 86, 89, 91, 94, 95, 117, 118, 
125, 161, 167, 168, 170, 173, 174, 
189, 196, 211, 235, 343, 344, 346, 

427, 451, 457, 458, 460-462, 467, 
468, 471, 475, 477-481, 488, 514, 
516, 540, 551, 638, 639, 645, 648, 
649,652,659,661,665,675. Aaron, 
Jr., 213, 233, 314, 335, 338, 436, 
438, 450, 457, 458, 462, 464, 480- 
483, 540, 562, 651, 660, 661, 688. 
Aaron, 3d, 460. Abby W., 298. 
Abiel, 61, 458, 558. Abigail, 60, 

61, 224, 272. Abigail (Mrs. John), 
59. Abigail (Richardson), 137. 
Amraphel, 161, 551, 576, 607, 653, 
663, 665. Archibald, 230, 435, 
480, Arthur E., 518. Caleb, 58, 

59, 332. Catharine E., 30, 38. 
Christopher, 58, 59, 71, 83, 87, 88, 
313, 470, 474, 475, 684. Daniel, 

428. David, 60, 88, 96, 119, 125, 
137, 140, 152, 154, 157, 160, 211, 
454. David, Jr., no, 648, 653. 
Eben W., 304. Edward, 60, 137. 
Elbridge, 542. Eliakim, 486. 
Elizabeth, 60. Elizabeth (Mrs. 
Joshua), 59. Ester, 317. Eu- 
nice, 272. Ezra, 59. Frank, his 
"History of Dover," 249. George, 

60, 159, 272, 345, 440, 485, 487, 

551, 646, 648, 653, 663. Ithamar, 
60, 435, 455, 460, 470, 473- Itha- 
mar, Jr., 458, 460, 466. Jabez, 52, 

552, 640. James, 61, 96, 119, 196, 
230, 428, 554, 589, 618, 638-640, 
645, 653, 654, 657, 663. Jason, 
474, 475- Jeremiah, 27, 428, 458, 
462, 463, 477. Joel, 486, 487. 
John, 12, 31, 37, 55, 58, 59, 71, 73, 
74, 78-80, 82-84, 182, 194, 195, 
216, 217, 221, 247, 308, 329, 331, 
332, 431, 460, 466, 477, 512, 518, 
645, 646, 648, 683. John, Jr., 328, 
458, 467, 473, 520, 649. John, 3d, 



458, 466. Jonathan, 16, 35, 53, 55, 
58-61, 83, 85, 86, 88, 115, 132, 168, 
174, 196, 199, 211, 230, 247, 314, 
368, 441, 454, 457, 514, 515, 557, 
615, 636, 642, 649, 650, 652, 684, 
688. Jonathan, Jr., 211, 481, 684. 
Joshua, 58-60, 71, 329. Josiah, 55, 
56, 307. Lemuel, 479. Lewis, 
307. Luther, 61, 589, 656. Lu- 
ther, 2d, 324, 566. Mrs. Martha, 
335. Martha (Mrs. Aaron), 235. 
Martha (Mrs. Jonathan), 60. 
Mary, 55. Widow Mary, 615. 
Mary (Mrs. James), 61. Mary C, 
299. Mehitable (Mrs. Richard- 
son), 137. Mehitable (Mrs. Whit- 
ing), 137. Mehitable (Richard- 
son), 137. Moses, 58. Myra, 610. 
Newell, 226, 316, 603, 633, 689. 
Oliver, 298, 299. Otis, 307. Pam- 
elia — Permelia, 284, 618. Rachel, 
284. Widow Rachel, 615. Ra- 
chel (Mrs. Caleb), 59. Rebecca, 
59, 60. Robert, 61, 90, 116, 167, 
203, 209, 432, 438, 446, 450, 456, 
457, 460, 461, 467, 471, 476, 480- 
483, 487, 559, 562, 652, 661, 675. 
Robert B., 408. Russell, 449. 
Ruth, 36. Samuel, 58, 59, 84, 458, 
460, 462, 463, 470, 549. Rev. 
Samuel F., 251, 253, 255. Solo- 
mon F., 125. Timothy, 60, 309, 
324. Timothy N., 18, 31, 46, 350, 
351, 440, 441, 448, 449, 539, 552, 
634, 654. William, 90, 92, 148, 
203, 233, 431, 436, 450, 457, 473, 
479, 527, 549, 554, 651, 660. 
William, Jr., 462, 464, 467, 474. 
Rev. William S., 275, 281 

Smith family, 58-61, 175, 176 

Snare drum players, 309, 631 

Snelling, Rev. Joseph, 258, 260, 262. 
Rodman P., 192 

Snow, Charles H., 28, 216. Walter F., 
290, 293-295, 518, 656 

Snow in roads, 102, 108, 417, 534 

Snuff-mill, 124 

Snuff Mill Dam, 380 

Social and Literary Union, 594, 595 

Social Library, 375 

Social Lodge, L O. of G. T., 604 

Societies, 589-614 

Society of Colonial Wars in Massachu- 
setts, Yearbook, 429 

Soirees, 372 



736 



INDEX 



"Sol" Fuller's Bridge, 126 

"Sol" Fuller's Brook, 78, 126, 140 

Soldiers' Letter, 492, 493 

Soldiers' Lot, 506, 508 

Soldiers' monument. Revolution, 453, 
507. Civil War, 507, 508 

Somerby, Gustavus A., 363 

Sons of Saint George, 592 

Sons of Temperance, 603 

Sons of the American Revolution, New- 
towne Chapter, 486 

Sons of the Revolution of Massachu- 
setts, 486 

Sons of Veterans, 508 

Soule, Rev. Joshua, 261 

Sounding board, 206 

South Boston, 283 

South Framingham, 415, 509 

South Lawrence, Saint Patrick's Church, 
296 

South Middlesex Street Railway, 419 

South Mills, 99, 243 

South Mills Bridge, 121 

South Natick, 122, 572, 635 

South Paris, Maine, 287 

South school district, 339-341, 343, 344, 

347, 358, 367 

South school-house, 335, 337, 342, 344, 
345. 347, 358, 360, 566. Teachers, 
362-365 

South Street, 79, 86, loi, 104, 105, 419 

Southborough, 549 

Southworth, George W., 379, 629. 
Winthrop M., 379 

Spalding — Spauldlng, Rev. Amos F., 
258. Rev. Solomon, 237. Ste- 
phen H., 570 

Spanish-American War of 1898, 509- 

S" 

Spanish War of 1740, 428, 429 

Sparrowhawk, Rev. Mr., 220 

Spear, Rev. Mr., 219. Richard C, 

509 

Spencer, Anna, 618. Annie H., 298 

Spool silk manufactured, 389 

Spottsylvania, 499, 501 

Sprague, Isaac, 298. John, 23. Wil- 
liam, 23 

Spring, George, 124, 351, 358, 577, 655. 
John, 194, 195. Marshall, 152, 
IS3. 570. Mary, 467. Samuel, 
467, 470 

Springfield, 128, 404, 473, 474 

Springfield, 111., 510 

Springfield Knitting Mill, 404 



Springfield Parish, Dedham, later Dover, 
142, 225, 368, 478, 512 

Springvale Baptist Church, 249 

Springvale Park, 249 

"Squire Art," 633 

Stage coach, 545 

Stages, 539, 540, 543-545 

Stand-pipe, 584 

Standard Bearers, 271 

Stanton, Richard, 297. William H., 
304 

Stanwood, Charles E., 376, 655, 659 

Starkweather, E., 455 

Starr — Star, Ebenezer, 562, 569, 570, 
608, 609. Henry, 444, 570. Hor- 
ace, 307. Josiah, 569 

State Aid, 490 

State Constitution, see Massachusetts, 
Constitution 

State Conventions, 171, 172 

State, county and town officers, 645-669 

State elections, 169-171, 175, 188 

State Federation of Women's Clubs, 

598, 599 

State roads, 105, 588 

State School Fund, 533 

State Senators, 645 

State Street, 423 

State tax, 153, 521, 524, 529, 530 

Station Tree, 62, 150, 215 

Statistics, manufactures, 409-412. Val- 
uation, population, etc., 530-537 

Steam-boilers, 411 

Steam-engines, 409, 411 

Steam roller purchased, 104 

Stearns, Isaac R., 590, 594, 595, 600 

Stebbins, John, 431 

Stedman, Ellis, 488, 589. Mrs. F. F., 
610. Frank E., 655. Joseph, 338. 
Mary, 307. Rebecca, 307. Will- 
iam, 317 

Steelton, Pa., 509 

Stetson, Almon B., 294 

Stevens, Rev. A., his "Memorials of 
the Introduction of Methodism 
into the Eastern States," 258 
His "Memorials of the Early Prog 
ress of Methodism in the Eastern 
States (Second Series)," 258. Abel 
438, 440. Abel F., 612. Abijah 
438, 453- Alvin G., 244. Augus- 
tus, III, 492, 654. Eliphalet, 307 
Ephraim, 211, 454, 462. Ephraim 
Jr., 340. Franklin, 307, 351, 441 
443. George G., 61, iii, 226 



INDEX 



737 



Hadassah, 263. Isaac, 383. John, 

263. Timothy, 487 
Stevens family, 80 
Stick Bridge, 93, 94, 122 
Stimson, Jeremy, 570 
Stirling, Rev. John, 61 
Stockings made, 403 
Stocks, 637, 641 
Stoddard, Rev. Isaac, 261 
Stoil, Jacob, 430, 431 
Stone, Daniel, 541. Eunice, 263. 

Lucy, 594. Valeria G., 374. Will- 
iam, 570 
Stone crusher purchased, 104 
Stone Hall, Wellesley College, 374 
Stone masons, 100, 120, 205, 346, 347 
Story, George F., 421 
Stoughton, 23, 202, 555-557, 629 
Stoves, in Meeting-house, 206. In 

school-houses, 342 
Stow, 237, 334, 529 
Stowe — Stow, Joseph, 384. Timothy, 

465, 466 
Stowell, Hannah, 472. Joseph, 456, 

463, 470, 472 
Strawbery Meadow brook, 62 
Street lights, 584-586 
Street names, 106 

Street Railways, 416-420. Tax, 534 
Streeter, Rev. Elisha, 261 
Strife Meadow, 37, 38, 59 
Strife Meadow Bridge, 88 
Strife Meadow Brook, 57, 79, 80, 140 
Strong, Rev. Edward E., 284 
Sturbridge, 55 
Sturgis, Russell, 386, 387 
Sudbury — Sudbery, 18, 20, 22, 33, 34, 

62, 63, 139, 141, 148, 390, 637 
Sudbury River conduit, 103, 127, 673 
Suffolk County, 137, 164, 165, 167, 170, 

238, 473, 478, 479, 484, 516, 538 
Suffolk County, England, "]•] 
"Suffolk Deeds," 11, 57, 149 
Suffolk West Conference of Churches, 

285 
Sugars, Gregory, 231 
Sullivan, John, 297. Richard T., 387, 

399. William H., 140. 
Sullivan, R. T., Company, 388 
Sumner, Lewis, 352. Lewis N., 264, 

270 
Sunday School Association, 243 
Sunday School orchestra, 268 
Sunday Schools, 375. First Church, 

242-244, 246, 603. Congregational 



Church, 246. Baptist Church, 251, 
25s, 603. Methodist Churches, 
265, 266, 603. Orthodox Congre- 
gational Church, Grantville, 276, 
279, 282, 603. Evangelical Con- 
gregational Church, 284, 288. Saint 
Joseph's Church, 296, 297. Uni- 
tarian Society of Grantville, 298. 
Advent Christian Church, 301. 
Christ Church, 302-304, 604. First 
Church of Christ Scientist, 305 

Superintendent for Suppressing Gypsy 
and Brown-tail Moths, see Town 
Officers 

Superintendents of Schools, see Town 
Officers 

Superintendents of Streets, see Town 
Officers 

Superintendents of Water Department, 
j^^Town Officers 

Superintending School Committee, see 
Town Officers, School Committee 

Superior of St. Margaret's Home, 303 

"Surplus Revenue," 553 

Surveyor of Hemp and Flax, see Town 
Officers 

Surveyors of Highways, see Town 
Officers, Highway Surveyors 

Surveyors of Lumber, see Town Officers 

Surveyors of Timber, see Town Officers 

Surveyors of Wood, see Town Officers 

Sutherland, Lucy, 618 

Sutton, Ann H., 258. Mary M., 364. 
Samuel, 140, 398. Samuel, & Co., 
398, 399. Thomas, 186, 254, 255, 
257, 325, 379, 398, 598, 646, 655, 
658, 659 

Sutton, 15 

Sutton, Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, Eng- 
land, 406, 543 

Swain, Rev. Augustus C, 285, 292 

Swallow, George A., 291, 294 

Swan, Daniel, 570. James, 470. Wil- 
liam O., 250 

Swans, 139 

Sweater coats made, 401 

Sweaters made, 400, 401 

Sweet corn, 400 

Swift, Rev. John, 218, 224 

Swine, 636, 641. Number at different 
periods, 531, 535. Value, 531 

Swords on exhibition, 441 

Syleham, Suffolk, England, 24 

Sylvia, negro, 565 

Symms, William, 468, 470 



738 



INDEX 



TACKS made, 398 
Taft, Eleazer, 365 

Talbot, Mr., 30 

Tambling — Tombling, Matthew, 80, 
328, 683. Sarah, 224. Seth, 436 

Tankards, given to Congregational 
Church, 246. First Church, 238 

Tannery, 386 

Tappen, Mr., 174 

Tarvia used on roads, 105 

Taverns and Post-Offices, S38-54S 

Tax lists, 31, 189, 522, 527 

Tax rate, S 1.7, 532, 533 

Taxes, 153. Assessment of, 519-522. 
Collection of, 522-525. Duties of 
the taxpayers, 525, 526. Abate- 
ment of, 526, 527. Miscellaneous 
tax items, 527, 528. Province tax, 
528-530 

Tea, 450 

Tea and Toast Club, 597, 691 

Telegraph and telephone lines, 586 

Temperance and temperance societies, 
574, 601-605 

Temperance Convention, 602 

Temperance Reform Club, 604 

Tenney, Mrs., 541 

Terence, negro, 565 

Terracolio used on roads, 105 

Terry, Rev. Samuel, 218, 219 

Thacher, Rev. Peter, 218. Rev. Philip 
S., 242, 243. Rev. Thomas, his 
Memoir of Rev. Samuel West, 236 

Thayer — Thair, Miss, 370. Alexander, 
570. E. F., 282. Rev. Ebenezer, 
233. L. R., 264 

Third Congregational Society, see Wel- 
lesley Hills Congregational Society 

Third Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses, First Church 

Thompson, Rev. Amos G., 260. Rev. 
Edwin, 602. John, 270. Rev. 
Joseph H., 269 

Thorpe, Charles, 270, 525, 595, 599. 
F. Ernest, 425. John, 406, 599. 
Joseph B., 266, 267, 270, 325, 361, 
377, 406, 407, 587, 595, 599, 656. 
Sarah B., 587. Thomas, 599 

Thorpe family, 406 

Thorpe Memorial Park, 587 

"Three Apostles, The," 259 

Thwing & Clapp Bros., 357 

Ticonderoga, New York, 434, 466, 467 

Tilton, John A., 519, 625, 656 

Tinkham, Rev. John, 261 



Tisdale, George W., 325, 664. Howard, 

309 

Titcomb, Jonathan, 475 

Titus, negro, 22 

Titus, John W., 182, 355, 668 

Tiverton, R. I., 476 

Tobacco sent to soldiers, 493 

Toddy, 132, 656 

Toll-gate, 98 

Tolling, 322 

Tolman — Toleman, Ebenezer, 14, 61. 
Elmun, 94, 456, 463, 467, 468, 548. 
Jemima, 14, 57, 61. John, 93-95, 
154, 156, 158, 163, 203, 323, 324, 
362, 440, 452, 456, 459, 460, 463, 
466,467,524,589,661,662. Mary, 
14, 61. Nathaniel, 14, 48, 57, 61, 
62, 93, 94, 118, 223, 230, 247, 319, 
435, 461, 466, 568, 672. Thomas, 
14, 62, 430, 431 

Tolman family, 61, 62 

Tolman lot, 452 

Tombs, 31, 318, 319 

Toone, George H., 584. William, & Co., 
408 

Toone Bros., 408 

Torrey — Torry, Ellsworth, 275, 281. 
Jonathan, 430, 43 1 

Torrey estate, 354 

Town agents and lawsuits, 189, 190 

Town ammunition, 196, 427, 428 

Town auditors, see Town Officers, 
Auditors 

Town caucus, 192, 193 

Town charges, appropriations, 533, 534 

Town clerk, see Town Officers, Clerk 

Town clock, 586 

Town debts, 163, 183, SH'^'^l, 523 

Town documents, 629 

Town farm, see Poor-farm 

Town-Fasts, 227 

Town Hall, 163, 179, 185, 190-192, 376, 
551, 552, 586, 634, 644, 683. New 
Town Hall, 192, 625, 626 

Town meetings, 158, 159, 166, 175-182, 
184, 186, 188, 190-192, 194, 199, 
200, 210, 217, 221, 227, 339, 417 

Town officers, 177, 179, 180, 189, 192, 
554, 648-689 
Assessors, 174, 175, 519-522, 524,526- 
528, 532, 641, 643, 644, 655, 661, 
664, 665, 670. Chronological list, 
659-665. Term of office, 520. 
Pay, 520, 521 
Auditors, 518, 673 



INDEX 



739 



Town officers — Continued 

Board of Health, 405, 564 

Chief Engineers, Fire Department, 
S8i 

Clerk, 159, 161, 164, 173, 176, 180, 
184, 186, 188, 190, 212, 247, 249, 
426, 428, 436, 437, 448, S18, 539, 
609,642, 656, 681. Chronological 
list, 657, 658. Records, 188 

Clerks of the Market, 687 

Committee of Correspondence, In- 
spection and Safety, 149, 450 

Committee to Reckon with the Town 
Treasurer,^ 515,^ 518, 519, 534. 
Chronological list, not indexed, 
681,682 

Constables, 178, 179, 670-673, 682, 
683, 687, 689 

Coroners, 648 

Custodians of Public Grounds, 587 

Deerreaves, 642, 643. Chronological 
list, not indexed, 685 

Engineers, Fire Department, 578, 581 

Engineers, Water Department, 584 

Fence viewers, 570, 641. Chronologi- 
cal list, not indexed, 680, 681 

Field drivers, 640, 641. Chronologi- 
cal list, not indexed, 679, 680 

Finance Committee, 518, 519 

Firewards, 578, 640, 673 

Forest firewards, 578 

Haywards, 684 

Health Officer, 564 

Highway Surveyors, 180, 640, 673. 
Chronological list, not indexed, 675- 
677. Duties, 107-112. Number 
chosen,iio. How elected, 11 1, 112. 
Collectors of highway taxes, in, 
112. Compensation, 1 12 

Hogreaves, 636, 637. Chronological 
list, not indexed, 685-687 

Inspector of Cattle and Provisions, 

639 
Liquor Agent, 601 
Measurers of Wood and Bark, 688 
Military Committee, 490 
Moderators, 173, 174, 177, 178, 180- 

182, 190, 191, 490, 491, 518 
Overseers of the poor, 178, 550, 553, 

5S4> 639. Chronological list, not 

indexed, 674 
Park Commissioners, 587 
Pound-keepers, 638-640 
Public Weighers, 688 
Registrars of voters, 176 



Town officers — Continued 

School Committee, 112, 176, 179, 337, 
342, 348, 351-361, 370, 574, 669. 
Chronological list of members, 665- 
669. Reports, 188, 189, 345, 349, 
350, 352, 353 

Sealers of Bread, 640, 687 

Sealers of Leather, 640, 684. Chrono- 
logical list, not indexed, 684 

Sealers of Weights and Measures, 640, 

682, 683 

Selectmen, 79-89, 91, 92, 95, 96, 98- 
100, 102, 103, 107, 110-112, 123, 
124, 127, 132, 136, 159, 161, 164, 
173, 174, 179, 180, 182, 183, 186, 
187, 189, 190, 192, 196, 208, 216, 
217, 219, 260, 319, 320, 328, 329, 

331, 340, 353, 355, 361, 368, 394, 
405, 416-420, 422, 427, 428, 439, 
442, 472, 473, 475, 479, 482, 483, 
487, 490, 491, 507, 515, 516, 518- 
520, 526-528, 530, 538, 546, 548, 
549, 551-555, 557-564, 566, 569, 
577, 578, 585, 586, 601, 613, 625, 
633, 637-642, 655, 656, 659, 682, 

683, 687, 689. Chronological list, 
648-656 

Superintendent for Suppressing Gyp- 

sey and Brown-tail A'l'oths, 614 
Superintendents of Schools, 358 
Superintendents of Streets, in, 363 
Superintendents of Water Depart- 
ment, 584 
Surveyor of Hemp and Flax, 688 
Surveyors of Lumber, 640, 688 
Surveyors of Timber, 688 
Surveyors of Wood, 460, 688, 689 
Tax collectors, 522-525, 540, 541 
Treasurer, in, 112, 159, 161, 185, 
187, 220, 233, 234, 312, 332, 343, 
480, 515-5x9, 522-524, 527, 534, 
554, 563, 576, 624, 637, 641, 643, 
671, 681, 682. Chronological list, 
658, 659. Earliest book, 519. 
Salar}% 516 
Tree warden, 613, 614 
Trustees of the Loan Money, 514 
Tythingmen, 207, 570. Chronologi- 
cal list, not indexed, 678, 679 
War Committees, 483 
Wardens of Town farm, 554, 555. 
Chronological list, not indexed, 
674,675 
Water Commissioners, 583, 584 
Weighers and Gaugers, 688 



740 



INDEX 



Town physicians, 569-571 

Town property, value, 532 

Town publications, 187-189 

Town records, 75, ify, 85, 86, 91, 115, 
122, 126, 146, 184-187, 200, 219, 
226, 466, 490, 513, 639 

Town reports, 186, 188, 189,405 

Town seal, 189 

Town treasurer, see Town Officers, 
Treasurer 

Town water, 580, 582-584 

Towne, Emma I., 500 

Town's Poor, 546-563. Appropriations, 
533, 534, 553- Questions of domi- 
cile or settlement, 548-550. Poor- 
farm, 550-555. French Neutrals, 
555-558. Indians, 558, 559. Warn- 
ings out of town, 560-562 

Townsend, Mr., 399. George J., 572, 
573. Gregory, 187, 232. Horatio, 
190. Rev. Jonathan, 14, 25, 36, 
49, 142-144, 186, 187, 198, 220, 
227-233, 235, 236, 244, 248, 313, 
314, 318, 334, 513, 527, 549. His 
ministry, 220-223. His records, 
221-230. His ordination, 224. His 
salary, 220, 229-231. His printed 
sermons, 233. His students, 236. 
Rev. Jonathan, Jr., 232, 334, 372. 
Mrs. Jonathan, 199, 233. Penn, 
75. Samuel, 94, 198, 203, 232, 
334,521,652,660,675. Sarah, 362. 
Thomas H., 237, 238. 

Townsend barn, 545 

Townsend place, 613 

Trail, John, 20, 25, 56 

Train, Charles R., 162 

Training Field, 313, 315, 613, 625, 691 

Travel allowance to soldiers. Revolution, 
461,463,464 

Travis, Henry, 307. Timothy W., 278 

Tray, Sarah, 10 

Treaner family, 204 

Treasurer, see Town Officers 

Treasurers of First Parish, 212. Book 
of first treasurer, 519 

Tree Warden, see Town Officers 

Trees, 613, 614 

Trial Justices, 647 

Trip hammer shop, 130 

Trombone played in church, 309 

Trowbridge, Susanna, 48. Thomas, 48 

Truants, 193 

Trull, David, 211, 458, 463. David, 
Jr., 438 



Trustees of the Loan Money, see Town 
Officers 

Turtle Island, 163, 380 

Tucker, Mrs., 547. Charles T., 448. 
Enos H., 12, 25, 65, loi, 135, 
171, 172, 191, 197, 241, 307, 320, 
362, 363, 397, 421, 437, 444, 446, 
448, 489, 539, 547, 618, 619, 625, 
645, 646, 655, 664, 665. Enos H., 
Jr., 448, 449. Frederic H., 421. 
James, & Co., 390. Jerusha, 42 

Tucker family, 65 

Turner, Mr., 403. Abiel, 527. Edwin, 
403. Eliza (Mrs. John), 327. 
Hezekiah, 478. John, 403. John, 
Jr., 403. John, of Plymouth, 455. 
Robert, 139 

Turner lot, 327 

Turner place, 403, 405 

Turnpike, 80, 98, 99, 115 

Turnpike Bridge, 114, 412 

Tuttle, Frederic G., 419, 584 

Tweft, Rev. Mr., 219 

Twigg, Aaron, 355, 655. John L., 525 

"Twin Oaks," 593 

Twombly, Alexander H., 383 

Tyler, Colonel, 474. Rev. Andrew, 227, 

235 
Tyng, Stephen, 344 
Tyringham, 232 
Tythingmen, see Town Officers 

T TNDERTAKERS, 322, 323 

^-^ Underwear made, 399, 403, 404, 

406-408 
Underwood, Cato, 467, 478. Charles, 

552. Isaac, 15, 92, no, 133, 147, 

150, 151, 437, 454, 527, 656, 660. 

John, 22, 62, 86, 130, 141, 142, 649. 

Jonathan, 22, 23. Joseph, 149. 

Rev. Nathan, 237. Priscilla, 22 
Underwood and Train, 347 
Underwood family, 62 
Union, Conn., 618 
Union Cycle Company, 399 
Union Literary Association, 595 
Union suits made, 404 
Union Temperance Band, 603, 604 
Unionville, 136, 351 
Unitarian Club, 598 
Unitarian Church, Grantville, see 

Churches 
Unitarian Society of Grantville, 242, 

297-301. Incorporated, 298. Its 

Sunday School, 298. Original mem- 



INDEX 



741 



bers, 298, 299. Name changed, 

299. New church built, 300, 301. 

Gifts, 300. Parsonage built, 301. 

The Register, 301 
Unitarian Society of Wellesley Hills, 

see Unitarian Society of Grantville 
United Order of the Golden Cross, 

592 
United States Army, 491, 511 
United States Colored Troops, 502 
United States Volunteers, 510 
United Workmen, Ancient Order of, 

592 

Unity Club, 598 

"Universal Register of the Baptist 
Denomination in North America," 
248 

Universalists, 242, 243 

University of Vermont, 372 

Upham, Cyrus G., 45, 265, 271, 284, 
293. David, 466. Ephraim, 431, 
432. Henry H., 591. Jabas, 431, 
432. Josiah, 123, 211, 435, 441, 
457, 462, 467, 472, 473, 479, 483, 
661. Josiah, Jr., 89 

Upper Dam, Lower Falls, 382-384, 
388 

Upper Dam, Upper Falls, 380 

Upper Falls, 9, 11, 18, 39, 44, 54-56, 81, 
82, 92, 98, 99, 113, 114, 128, 163, 
179, 357, 378, 38i» 394, 412, 421, 
422, 425, 445, 447, 542, 576-578, 
580, 673. Industries, 380-382. See 
also Newton Upper Falls 

Upper Falls school district, 340, 343, 

346, 349 
Upper Falls school-house, 338, 348, 

349, 360. Teachers, 362 
Urbino, Mrs. L., 371 
Uxbridge, 543, 569 

TyTALENTINE, Olive C, 298 
' Valuation lists, 189, 527 
Valuation of the town at different 

periods, 1768-1910, 530-532 
Van Buren, Pres. Martin, 170 
Vanneman, Rev. John, 260 
Vassall, John, 149 
Ventres, William H. S., 371 
Vermont Legislature, 255 
Vernon, Admiral, 428 
Very, Francis, 14, 66, 334 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Civil War, 494, 

505 
Vialas, Peter, 334, 365 



Village Hall, 191, 283, 290, 353, 372, 

423, 492, 608, 609 
Village Improvement Society, 326 
Vincent Circle of the Chautauqua, 597 
Vine Rock Bridge, 117, 118 
Viney, Rufus, 307 
Violets, 35 

Violin played in church, 309, 310 
Violoncello played in church, 309, 

,574 
Virgin, Rev. Charles, 261 
Visit of President Washington to 

Needham, 623 
Vorse, Rev. Albert B., 242, 297, 299, 301. 

His salary, 299. Henry, 165. 

William, 487 
Voters, 173-176 
Voting lists, 36 

WABAN, 10 
Waban Brook, 60, 125, 130, 
138 
Waban Conservatories, 23, 33, 62, 

389 

Waban Hall, 353, 507, 591, 604 

Waban Mills, 130, 391 

Walcott — Wolcott, Captain, 469. 
Harris H., 383. Henry D., 383. 
John W., 27, 52 

Waldron, Rev. John de L., 244, 293 

Wales, Nathaniel, 52, 104, 427, dfi"]. 
Nathaniel, Jr., 577, 654. Nathan- 
iel, Jr., & Co., 382 

Wales & Mills, 382, 384 

Wales Street, Newton, 124, 540 

Wales's Tavern, 540 

Walker, Abigail, 362. Rev. Avery S., 
286, 287, 292. Azariah, 207. Rob- 
ert B., 257, 376, 379 

Wallburg, Othman, 205 

Wallin, George, 462 

Walling, H. F., 131 

Wallsworth, Rev. Mr., 220 

Walnut Street, Wellesley, 124, 540 

Walpole, 237, 438, 439, 442, 443, 445, 
446, 602 

Walpole Light Infantry, 446 

Walradt, Henry M., 294, 355, 358 

Walsh, Martin J., 297 

Walter, Rev. Mr., 219, 227 

Waltham, 203, 448, 579, 616 

Walton, Thomas S., 270 

Wamskutt, — , 470 

War Committees, see Town Officers 

War of 1812, 439, 486-489 



742 



INDEX 



War of the American Revolution, 450- 

489, 514 
Lexington Alarm, 451-453 
Lexington Alarm Lists, 454-458 
Siege of Boston, 1775, 459, 460 
Dorchester Heights, 460-462 
Military duty at Roxbury, 462-464 
Castle Island, 1776, 464, 465. 1779, 

479 
Canada and New York, 465-468 
Continental Army, 468. One year 
men, 1776, 468. Three years' men, 
1777-1780, 469-471. Votes of the 
Town relating to service in, 471, 

472. Nine months' men, 1779, 

473, 474. Six months' men, 1780, 

474> 475- _ 

Care of the families of the soldiers, 

472, 473 
Rhode Island Campaign, 475-477 
Re-inforcements for the Northern 

Army, 1777, 477. 1778, 477-479 
Votes of the town and orders of the 
Selectmen relative to the War, 
1778 and 1779, 479-482. 1780 to 
1783, 482, 483 
War taxes, 522, 527 
Ward, Esq., 549. Widow, 147. Ben- 
jamin, 16, 26, 64, 463. Edward, 

63, 64, 86, 144, 200. Edward L., 
555, 640. John, 63, 359. Miriam, 

64. Samuel, 64, 458, 460, 462, 
463, 481, 485. William, 63, 569. 
William H., 119, 125. William L., 

391 

Ward family, 63, 64 

Ward farm, 64 

Ward Genealogy, 64 

Wardens of Town farm, see Town 
Officers 

Ward's Brook, 63, 147, 148 

Ward's Lane, 63 

Ward's Mill, 63, 64, 149 

Ware, A. Elizabeth, 272. Benjamin, 
456, 468. Daniel, 65, 95, 97, 120, 
157, 159, 163, 181, 187, 307, 343, 
350, 440, 458, 467, 487, 554, 589, 
624, 64s, 648, 653, 657, 659, 661. 
Mrs. Daniel, 65. Deborah, 64, 65. 
Dexter, 100, 271, 272, 274, 276, 
277, 281, 282, 348, 552, 653, 663, 
665,666. Dorothy, 21. Ebenezer, 
16, 50, 64-66, 71, 74, 81, 82, 
136, 195, 217, 219, 330, 615, 671. 
Ebenezer, Jr., 323. Elijah, 323. 



Emma F., 65, 83. Her "Ware 
Genealogy," 65. Ephraim, 64, 65, 
71, 83, 84, 88, 118, 194, 329, 441, 
461, 488, 615, 689. Ephraim, Jr., 
650, 684. Esther, 36. George D., 
275, 276, 278, 280-282. Hannah, 
55, 272. Hannah J., 351. John, 

383, 582. John J., 577. Jona- 
than, 204, 456, 461. Joseph, 65, 
456, 459, 468, 470, 479, 484. Jo- 
siah, 89-91, 118, 200, 211, 343, 435, 
454, 486, 561, 615, 642, 651, 670. 
L. Emeline, 272. Louisa M., 272. 
Luther, 307, 589. Lydia P., 272. 
Martha, 235. Martha (Mrs. Eben- 
ezer), 16. Mary C, 272. Mehet- 
abel, 65. Nathaniel, 92, 93, 116, 
342, 343, 462, 546, 652, 662. Mrs. 
Persis, 246. R. Wlllfrd, 272. Re- 
becca A., 272. Retbei, 65, 271, 
272, 276-279, 307, 346, 349, 352, 

384, 440, 554, 601, 607, 648, 653, 
663,665. Reuben N., 281. Reuel, 
65, 83. 98, 99, 161, 271, 272, 275- 
278, 280, 281, 441, 654, 666. Ro- 
bert, 64, 65, 637, 678. Samuel, 32, 
64, 94, 436, 459, 467, 554. Samuel, 
Jr., 456, 461. William S., 281 

Ware & Clark, 382 

Ware & Wilder, 98 

Ware family, 64, 65 

Warner, Daniel A., 555 

Warnings out of town, 560-562 

Warrants for Town meetings, 177-179 

Warren, Mr., 433. Daniel, 321. E. 
L., 570. Edward, 570, 572. Jona- 
than, 478, Sir Peter, 158. Rachel, 
588 

Warwick, 51, 569 

Washburn, Diana P., 212 

Washburn's Field, 625 

Washington, George, 169, 447, 476, 479, 
His visit to Needham, 623 

Washington, D. C, 42, 511. Union 
Chapel Hospital, 497. Adjutant- 
General's Office, 501 

Washington elm, 623 

Washington Street, 88, 102, 124, 131, 
134, 153, 623. Trees, loi 

Washlngtonian crusade, 602 

Water Commissioners, see Town Officers 

Water Department, 581, 583, 584 

Water reservation, 583, 600 

Water-wheels, 409, 411, 412 

Waterhouse, Benjamin, 570 



INDEX 



743 



Watering cart purchased, 104 
Watering places, 100 
Watering-troughs, 583 
Waterloo, 496, 510 

Watertown, 19, 34, 68, 69, 151, 166, 380, 
386, 419, 428, 460, 466, 570, 623, 

644 

Watkins — Wadlcins — Wodkins, An- 
drew, 63, 71, 636. Mary, 63 

Watson, Captain, 469 

Watts, Isaac, his "Psalms and Hymns," 

239> 308 
Wayland, 273 
Webb, Rev. Robert L., 254, 256, 624, 

626 
Webber, Adrianna G., 284. Henry, 

284 
Webber Brothers, 407 
Webster, Rev. Amos, 249, 255 
Webster Quartet, 625 
Webster Street, 79, 104, 124, 420 
Weighers and Gaugers, see Town Officers 
Weights and measures, 682, 683 
Welch, William F., 640 
Weld, Colonel, 464, 470. Abel, 342 
Well, at Needham Lower Falls, 623. 

At minister's house, 204 
Welles — Wells, Abbie, 299. Jane, 635. 

John, 391, 551, 553, 634. Samuel, 

150, 151. Susan, 63 s 
Welles place, 635 
Wellesley, 9, 12, 18, 35-37, 42, 83, 89, 

103, III, 124, 126, 127, 132, 134, 

140, 154, 176, 185, 215, 243, 280, 

319, 333, 340, 349, 352-354, 356, 
360, 378, 390, 400, 401, 416, 418, 

485, 486, 498, 501, 517, 541, 544, 

553, 572, 573, 578, 582, 583, 591, 
612,631,634,635,647,691. Incor- 
porated, 162, 163. Saint Andrew's 
Church, 303, 304. Schools, 354, 
356, 357- Railroad station, loi. 
Town Hall, 61, 635, 688 
Wellesley Advertiser, 359 
Wellesley Avenue, 83, 88, 98, 102, 114 
Wellesley College, 35, 60, 373, 374, 391, 
510, 533, 539, 628. Flag-raising, 

486. Soldiers' monument, 486 
Wellesley Congregational Church, see 

Churches, Congregational Church 
in West Needham 
Wellesley Congregational Society, 326 
Wellesley Country Club, 37, 87, 158, 553 
Wellesley Female Seminary, see Welles- 
ley College 



Wellesley Hills, 9-1 1, 19, 24, 27, lOi, 
139, 162, 329-331, 333, 384, 540, 
544, 572, 609, 691. First Congrega- 
tional Church, 271-282. Unitarian 
Church, 279 

Wellesley Hills Congregational Society, 
276-279 

Wellesley Square, 342 

Wellington Avenue Bridge, 588 

Wellman, Rev. Joshua W., 275 

Welsh, James, 326 

Wendell — Wendall, Jacob, 436 

Wesson, Colonel, 469 

West, Jared, 342. Nathan P., 372. 
Priscilla, 235, 236. Samuel, 372. 
Rev. Samuel, 49, 168, 197, 202, 
203, 208, 228, 232-234, 237, 238, 
451, 513, 528. His ministry, 234- 
237. His ordination, 235. His 
autobiography, 235, 236. His pub- 
lications, 236. His students, 236. 
His salary, 237. Rev. Samuel of 
Dartmouth, 235. Rev. Thomas, 

235 

West Cambridge, 16, 137, 149, 360, 361, 
429, 451-453, 486 

West Centre highway district, 99 

West Church, see Churches, Congrega- 
tional Church in West Needham 

West Company, Militia, 438, 440, 442, 
451, 452. Captains, 440, 441. 
Muster-roll, 1775, 457, 458. 1776, 
461, 462 

West Dedham, 461 

West End, 12, 33, 148, 329, 332, 334, 
429. Annexed to Natick, no, 141. 
See also Needham Leg 

West End school district, 338-341 

West End school-house, 33, 339-341 

West High School, 353, 354, 595 

West Indies, 428 

West Medway, 272 

West Meeting-house, see Meeting- 
houses 

West Meeting-house school district, 340, 

341, 343 

West Meeting-house school-house, 339. 
Teachers, 362 

West Needham, 95, 127, 136, 154, 159, 
202, 206, 245, 264, 283, 325, 360, 
366, 370, 373, 413, 424, 444, 447, 
486, 501, 542, 548, 569, 573, 611, 
623, 630, 634, 672, 691. Cemetery, 
325,326,486. Post-office, 542. De- 
pot, 99 



744 



INDEX 



West Newton, 272, 413, 447, 543 

West Parish, see Parishes 

West Point, New York, 470 

West Precinct, 152-158, 160, 161, 206, 
214, 215, 271, 309, 312, 323, 566, 
627. Incorporated as town of 
Wellesley. .S^^ also Parishes, West 
Parish 

West Roxbury, 285, 415, 420 

West Roxbury and Roslindale Street 
Railway Company, 418, 419 

West school district, 343, 344, 349, 350, 
366 

West school-house, 343, 347, 349. 
Teachers, 362-364 

Westcoat, John, 114 

Western Railroad Corporation, 413 

Western Railroad House, Boston, 447 

Westminster Abbey, 434 

Westmoreland, N. H., 573, 575 

Weston, Thomas P., 589 

Weston — Westown, 22, 34, 56, 58, 62, 
80, 83-85, 89, 98, 100, 132, 133, 
134, 148, 150, 220, 224, 235, 259, 
264, 430, 431, 562, 569, 585. Its 
"Vital Records," 132. Methodist 
Society, 262. Baptist Church, 307. 
South graveyard, 260 

"Westown Farm, The," 260 

Westwood, 9 

Weymouth, 371 

Wheat — Wheet, Joshua, 49, 560, 
568 

Wheaton, Caleb, 25, 121. Comfort, 436. 
Elizabeth, 25. Jesse, 570. Laben, 
190 

Wheeler, B. T., 119. Rev. John E., 
292. Samuel S., 493 

Whetton, John J., 543, 544 

Whig Party, 170 

Whitaker, Mr., 423. Arthur, 97, 313, 
400, 625, 655, 664. Mrs. Arthur, 
603, 625. Channing, 611. Edgar 
K.,40, 102, 104, 250-252, 316, 317, 
352, 413, 414, 490, 518, 602, 603, 
608, 610, 645, 646, 648, 666. Rev. 
Jonathan, 246. Thomas, 359 

Whitcomb — Whetcomb, Colonel, 151, 
211 

White, Barney L., 115, 380. Daniel, 
474, 478, see Wight, Daniel. 
George, 358, (id"]. Henry H., 611. 
Nathan, 441. Nathan, Jr., 524. 
Samuel, 315. Winthrop F., 619 

White Plains, N. Y., 477 



Whitehall, N. C, 497, 499 

White's Building, 604 

Whitefield, Rev. George, 262 

Whiting — Whitting, Calvin, 372. 
Daniel, 459. Dexter, 307. Eben- 
ezer, 167. Frederick A., 300. 
Moses, 459 

Whiting family, 53 

Whitman, B., 190 

Whitman & Hood, 355 

Whitman & Morton, 190 

Whitmore, see Whittemore 

Whitney, Colonel, 464. Auren J., 294. 
Cromwell, 307. Horatio, 307. Israel, 
160, 182, 309, 325, 362, 428, 453, 
537, 542, 554, 555, 589, 607, 648, 
653, 659, 662, 665, 691. Marianna, 
541. Samuel, 463 

Whittemore — Whitmore — Wittemore. 
Mrs., 49. Enoch, 470. Harrie S., 
192, 325, 518, 658. Henry J., 346, 
John H., 581. Jonathan, 432, 436, 

466. Jonathan, Jr., 457, 462-464, 

467, 476. Joseph, 434. Mary E., 
346. Nathan, 430, 431. Sarah, 50. 
Thomas, 434. Timothy, 470, 474, 

475 

Wiggins, Thomas, 307 

Wigglesworth, Colonel, 469. Rev. Mr., 
220 

Wight, Aaron, 570. Daniel, 114, 456, 
459, 468, 470, 478. Elizabeth, 6(>. 
Henry H., 611. Jonathan, 66. Jo- 
seph, 73,76. Lewis, 320. Samuel, 
202, 457, 461, 466, 641. Willard 
A., 15, 52, 329 

Wignall, Rev. William, 269 

"Wigwam," 21 

Wild animals and bounties, 641, 642 

Wild cats, 641, 642 

Wilder, Charles T., 275, 276, 281. 
Mary, 276. Theophilus, 464 

Wildes's, Boston, 543 

Wilkinson, Ebenezer, 456, 480. Ezra, 
190 

Willard, Rev. Elijah, 261. Rev. Fred- 
erick A., 252, 255, 667. Jonathan, 
56. Lydia, 56. Samuel, 569 

Willett, Joseph, 294. William, 295 

Willgoose, Peter, 304 

Williams, Archbishop, 295, 327. Rev. 
Mr., 303. Rev. Charles H., 275, 
280. George F., 138. Henrietta, 
138. John, 544. Mary, 272. 
Newell, 307. Silas, 273, 274, 279, 



INDEX 



745 



281. Silas G., 272, 351, 492, 525, 
654, 663. Rev. William, 220, 224 

Williams College, 373 

Willington, Captain, 469 

Willis, Lorenzo D., 383 

Wills 

Alderidge, Samuel, 13 

Ayres, Ann, 14 

Fisher, John, 25 

Hawes, David, 34. Joseph, 34 

Huntting, Jonathan, 36 

Kingsberv, Eleazer, 39. Josiah, 37, 

38. Timothy, 40, 41 
Rice, John, 57 

Smith, Edward, 60. John, 58, 59. 
Jonathan, 60 

Wilson — Willson, Charles, 552. Eliza- 
beth, 225. Enoch, 480. Ephraim, 
133. Henry, 448. John, 54, 338. 
Joseph, 430. Mary, 616. Na- 
thaniel, 95, 456, 461, 464. Na- 
thaniel, Jr., 309. Robert, 278. 
Samuel, 82, 84, 223, 331. Seth, 
437, 4SS. 460, 548, 651. Silas, 123 

Wilson's Corner, 96 

Wilson's Island, 58 

Winch, Enoch B., 449. Rev. Moses, 
283, 284, 290, 291, 321, 352, 
666 

Winchendon, 243 

Winchester, Amasa, 327. Charles, 470 

Windram, Harold W., 415 

Wine used at communion, 240 

Wing, John A., 264, 265, 270 

Wingate, Uranus O. B., 573 

Winship, Susan, 272 

Winslow & Bigelow, 192 

Winsor, Whitman S., 247 

Winton, Clara L., 300 

Wisconsin College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, 573 

Wise, Caroline E., 364 

Wiswall, Augustus C, & Son, 386 

WItherell, Horace G., 421 

Woburn, 430 

Wolcott, see Walcott 

Wolf bounty, ii, 45, 641 

Wolf Pit, 29, 135 

Wolf Pit Hill, 32, 58, 135 

Wolf Pit Meadow, 135 

Wolfe, General, 435 

Wolves, 641 

Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
605 

Women voters, 176 



Women's Foreign Missionary Society, 

271 
Women's suffrage, 593, 594 
Wood, Edmund M., 32, 329, 356, 388, 

389, 655. Henry, 352, 388-390 
Wood's, Henry, Sons' Company, 125, 

388, 390 

Woodard, Harry, 379 

Woodbury, Israel D., 618 

Woodcock — Wodcok — Woodcocke — 
Woodcok, Barnabas, 66. Elijah, 
617. Hannah (Mrs. Jeremiah), 67, 
198. Hannah (Mrs. Michael), 6-]. 
Isaiah, 487. Jeremiah, 66, 6"], 71, 
74, 80, 82, 84, 88, no, 180, 194, 195, 
198, 217, 220, 221, 223, 225, 226, 
229, 314, 316, 328, 329, 369, 456, 
463, 467, 474, 487, S 13, 615, 649. 
Jeremiah, Jr., 198, 314, 463, 466, 
640, 683. John, 48, 55, 57, 66, 
71, 173, 431, 678. Margret, 319, 
Mary, 224. Michael, 6G, 67. Na- 
thaniel, 67. Samuel, 66, 458. 
467. Sarah, 13. Mrs. Sarah, 66. 
Timothy, 589 

Woodcock family, 45, 66, 67 

Woodlawn Cemetery, Maiden, 510 

Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, 320, 
326, 327, 568 

Woods, Harriette N., 628. Rev. Leon- 
ard, 628 

Woodward, Mr., 165. Benoni, 196, 
200, 229, 649, 658, 660. Frederic 
N., 137. Josiah, 85, 89, 90, 123, 
435,548. Peter, 368. Royal, 566. 
Rev. Samuel, 235 

Woolen gloves made, 408, 409 

Woolen goods made, 408, 409 

Woolen rolls made, 399 

Woonsocket, 421 

Woonsocket Division, 421, 422 

Worcester, 14, 160, 370, 549 

Worcester & Central Turnpike, 98, 99 

Worcester County, 336 

Word, Rev. Mr., 234 

Working Men's Society, 606, 607 

Worsted goods made, 408, 409 

Worsted mitts made, 408 

Wragg, George E., 674. William, 621, 
631, 647, 673 

Wrapping paper made, 391 

Wrentham, 48, 64, 66, 555 

Wright, Francis, 386, 387. Francis, & 
Co., 387. George, 341. Rev. John 
E. M., 285, 292 



746 



INDEX 



Wright & Ditson, 408 

Wye, George E., 400, 401, 510. George 
E., Company, 401. Henry, 510. 
John, 510. John J., 401, 510. 
John T., 400, 401, 510, 627. Jo- 
seph, 510. Joseph A., 510. 
Thomas, 510. Thomas E., 509. 
William, 510. William H., 400, 
510. William H., Jr., 400 

Wye Brothers, 400 

Wye family, 510 

Wyman, Mrs., 205. William, 620, see 
Burrill, Francis A. 



VT'ARN made, 398, 404 
•* Yerxa, Frank W., 425 
"York", 467 
Young Men's Christian Association, 

County Secretary, 267. Cricket 

Club, 267. HIghlandville, 595, .596 
Young People's League, 267 
Young People's Society of Christian 

Endeavor, 267 
Young Woman's Christian Temperance 

Union, 605 

'VETOR, Elizabeth, 565 
^-' Zirngiebel, Denys, 400 



APR 19 1912 



Pli 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





014 079 208 1 « 



